Apple pulls data protection tool after UK government security row

Apple has discontinued its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature for UK users following a dispute with the British government. The UK government demanded access to encrypted data on Apple’s iCloud service under new evidence-collection powers. Apple, committed to user privacy, declined to create a “back door” for its encryption service, leading to the removal of ADP rather than complying with the government’s demands.

ADP, launched in December 2022, provided end-to-end encryption for iCloud data, ensuring that only users could access their files, with Apple unable to decrypt them. The UK government’s request for a backdoor would have allowed authorities to access encrypted data, raising concerns about user privacy and security.