Apple is removing its top-tier data encryption feature, Advanced Data Protection (ADP), from UK users following a government request for access to user data. The decision means that Apple customers in the UK will no longer be able to activate ADP, which ensures that only account holders can access their iCloud-stored content through end-to-end encryption.
The UK government made the request earlier this month, seeking the ability to access encrypted data under the Investigatory Powers Act (IPA), which mandates that companies must provide information to law enforcement agencies upon request. While Apple has consistently resisted creating encryption backdoors, citing potential misuse by cybercriminals, the company confirmed it would disable ADP activation in the UK starting Friday at 3 p.m. GMT. Existing users will also lose access at a future date.
“We are gravely disappointed that UK customers will no longer have access to this security feature,” Apple said in a statement. “We have never built a backdoor or master key into our products and never will.”
The Home Office declined to comment on the specific order, stating, “We do not comment on operational matters.”
Cybersecurity experts have criticized the government’s move, arguing that it undermines online privacy. Professor Alan Woodward of Surrey University called the decision “an act of self-harm” that weakens security for UK users. “It was naïve of the UK government to think they could dictate terms to a US technology company on a global scale,” he added.
The development has sparked backlash from privacy advocates, who describe the order as an “unprecedented attack” on individual privacy. Concerns have also emerged in the United States, where two senior politicians warned that the UK’s demands could jeopardize intelligence-sharing agreements between the two countries.
Despite the removal of ADP in the UK, the feature will remain available to users in other countries, raising questions about the global impact of the UK’s IPA order. In its statement, Apple emphasized its commitment to user privacy and expressed hope that it could restore ADP in the UK in the future. “Enhancing the security of cloud storage with end-to-end encryption is more urgent than ever before,” the company stated.
This latest dispute highlights growing tensions between governments seeking access to encrypted data and technology companies prioritizing user privacy, with potential implications for international regulatory frameworks and cross-border data security.
