Hide your group chat history. The UK has demanded Apple build a backdoor to its encryption services, giving the British police full key access to any Apple consumer’s content stored on the cloud.

And yes that means Apple users everywhere. Not just specific British users, but you, me, and every boomer with an iPhone. And if they comply with the British on this, Apple won’t even be permitted to warn consumers that the security of data doesn’t include security from the British government. 

Break Apple’s Encryption For All Its Users

The British government has served Apple with a Technical Capability Notice under the Investigatory Powers Act of 2016, also known as the Snoopers’ Charter—a fitting name, considering its intent. This law gives law enforcement the power to demand access to encrypted communications, overriding any security measures tech companies put in place.

But here’s the kicker: Apple wouldn’t even be allowed to warn its users that this is happening. We only know about this development because of leaks being reported by tech journalists at the Washington Post. This isn’t about targeting specific criminals with a warrant. The UK wants Apple to create a master key, a built-in vulnerability that would let the government unlock any iPhone’s cloud-stored content at will. And if Apple complies? The floodgates open.

Mike Salem of the Consumer Choice Center’s UK team put it well by saying,

“This is far beyond proportional as a response to national security threats, and sets an extremely dangerous precedent. Notices such as these will be served to other companies and other countries will want access to the same data the UK is trying to access. Crucially, it leaves all iCloud users in a vulnerable position, with information such as their personal details and photos exposed and un-encrypted, allowing criminals and foreign adversaries full access.”

Why Encryption Matters

Encryption is the bedrock of digital security.

At its most basic, it’s no different than when you’re in school and passing a note in class but every word is coded to mean something else so that the contents are a secret. See You After Class For Football Practice could be coded 10 thousand different ways and actually mean This Teacher Is Super Weird OMG Cringe. Like with ciphers or coded messages, letters are scrambled, but with digital encryption, the code – or key –for the note passed in class, changes after every single use. In the real world, that is the foundation of encrypted chat like WhatsApp, Signal, or iMessage on an Apple device or even HTTPS on your browser. 

Governments have long been frustrated by this. Former FBI Director Christopher Wray once argued before Congress that they should legislate a ban on commercial and personal encryption to help law enforcement catch criminals. He later reversed his position to encryption being the best consumer bulwark against Chinese hacks. The argument is always the same: they need access to encrypted devices to investigate crimes.

What the UK Is Demanding

Here’s the problem—weakening encryption for one case weakens it for everyone. If Apple builds a backdoor for the UK government, it’s only a matter of time before other governments demand the same access. And once an encryption backdoor exists, it’s a security risk that bad actors could exploit.

Rather than requesting access to specific user data through proper legal channels, the UK government is demanding a built-in backdoor that would allow authorities to unlock and access any Apple user’s stored data at will.

Apple has long resisted such demands, particularly when it comes to iPhone security. The company introduced Advanced Data Protection (ADP) in 2022, allowing users to fully encrypt their iCloud backups—meaning not even Apple could access them. It was a long-awaited move, especially after the FBI pressured Apple to delay rolling it out years earlier during Trump’s presidency.

Most iPhone and Mac users don’t enable ADP, but those who do gain significantly stronger protections against hacking, unauthorized surveillance, and data breaches. If Apple complies with the UK’s order, this level of security could be erased overnight.

What Happens Next?

Right now, Apple is legally forbidden from confirming whether it received the UK’s demand. However, leaks suggest Apple’s likely response will be to end encrypted storage in the UK entirely rather than compromise its security model. That decision would impact millions of UK users, but it’s entirely in the hands of secretive review boards that Apple will be appealing to behind closed doors.

The Bigger Picture

This fight is part of a larger trend—governments worldwide are pushing for more control over encrypted services, whether it’s cloud storage, messaging apps, or even VPNs that let users bypass restrictive online regulations.

But here’s the reality: Apple knows that consumers expect privacy, and it has shown a willingness to fight for encryption when it matters. That’s why it’s crucial to speak up, vote with your wallet, and protect your data.

Enable Advanced Data Protection
Update your passwords regularly
Stay informed on digital privacy laws

Because once encryption is gone, it’s gone for good.