The UK government may have sought far greater access to Apple customer data than previously disclosed, according to newly surfaced court documents. The revelation adds a fresh twist to the ongoing dispute between London and the California-based technology giant over encrypted storage services.
The row began earlier this year when it emerged that the Home Office had demanded access to data protected by Apple’s Advanced Data Protection (ADP), a security feature that provides end-to-end encryption for users’ cloud storage. ADP, which is optional for account holders, ensures that only the user can access stored data—even Apple itself cannot unlock it.
In February, reports revealed that the government’s request extended beyond UK users and included global data stored via ADP. At the time, Apple resisted, warning that compliance would effectively require building a “back door” into its system, undermining user privacy worldwide. Following backlash from US politicians and privacy campaigners, Apple withdrew ADP from UK customers.
However, a new filing from the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT), first reported by the Financial Times, suggests that the scope of the government’s demands may have been even broader. The tribunal, which hears complaints about covert surveillance activities, confirmed Apple had been issued a technical capability notice (TCN) between late 2024 and early 2025.
According to the document, the TCN did not just cover data stored under ADP but also required Apple to maintain the ability to disclose “categories of data stored within a cloud-based backup service” and, where possible, remove protections applied to that data. Crucially, the filing stated the obligations “are not limited to the UK or users of the service in the UK; they apply globally in respect of the relevant data categories of all iCloud users.”
The disclosure raises questions about whether the government has truly abandoned its push for wider access. Just eight days earlier, US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said the UK had dropped its demand to access encrypted data belonging to American citizens, calling the earlier request a potential threat to civil liberties.
Apple declined to comment on the latest filing but has long maintained it will never build a back door into its products, stressing that privacy is a “fundamental human right.” Cybersecurity experts warn that once such an entry point exists, it could be exploited by malicious actors as well as governments.
The dispute underscores a long-running standoff between Western governments and major tech firms over access to encrypted data. In the past, Apple has resisted similar demands in the United States, including a high-profile 2016 case in which the FBI sought to unlock the iPhone of a mass shooter.
As the tribunal considers the case, the issue highlights the delicate balance between national security imperatives and digital privacy—an issue that could have global repercussions for millions of Apple users.
