Apple has launched a legal challenge against the UK government over its demands for a “back door” into its cloud storage systems.
A report from The Financial Times claims that the firm received a technical capability notice (TCN) in January that obliged it to give public bodies access beyond a layer of encryption that sits atop Apple’s iCloud system.
The firm has appealed to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, an independent body that hears complaints about surveillance by public bodies, in a bid to reverse the decision. The case could be heard as early as this month, although it is unlikely that details will be made public over national security concerns.
Apple has long taken a strong stance advocating for enhanced privacy and encryption protocols as part of its business model, which focuses on device sales rather than personal data acquisition like rivals Google and Facebook.
In January 2024, Apple criticised a proposed amendment to the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 that would allow the...