Graham FraserTechnology reporter
Getty imagesThe UK government would forces Apple to provide access to more customer data than before, a court document has indicated.
After the emergence of the home office, a line erupted between the two, in which the tech veteran was asked for the correct access to highly encrypted user data stored through a service called Advanced Data Protection (ADP).
Now a court’s document suggests the request – enacted under the law called the Investigation Powerrs Act – the government may also be able to get access to a wide range of apple customer data.
It also suggests that the government may still demand access to non-UK users’ data, said that the US officials had reduced the demand last week.
The UK government and Apple have been approached for comment.
It is believed that the UK government would only like to access this data if there is a risk for national security.
In February, it emerged The government demanded to be able to access encrypted data Apple stored in its cloud service worldwide by apple users. This applies to all the material stored using the ADP service.
Tech and-to-end uses encryption, where only account holders can reach the stored data-even Apple cannot see it.
It was an opt-in service, and not all users choose to activate it.
Although it makes your data more secure, it comes with a negative side – it encryps your data so heavy that if you lose access to your account it cannot be recovered.
It is unknown about how many people choose to use ADP.
‘Back door’
After American politicians And privacy campaigners underlined their anger at the move, Apple decided to draw ADP From customers in UK.
Now, a new court document has emerged from an independent judicial body, Investigator Power Tribunal (IPT).
The IPT hears complaints from anyone who feels that they have fallen victim to illegal action by a public body using secret investigative techniques.
It may also be related to the operation of UK intelligence services including Mi5 and Mi6.
In filing in this latest court, first Reported by Financial TimesIt has been said that Apple was given a technical capacity notice (TCN) by the UK government at the end of 2024 and at some point in early 2025.
This suggests that “notice on data covered by ADP (although not limited) applies – it was earlier understood that the government’s demand was particularly focused on the data stored using encryption technology.
Apple’s TCN also includes “obligations” to provide and maintain a capacity to reveal the categories of data stored within the cloud -based backup service and to remove electronic security, which applies to the data where it is appropriately practical “.
The filing adds: “The obligations involved in TCN are not limited to the users of service in the UK or UK; they all apply globally in relation to the relevant data categories of icloud users.”
The new court document from IPT is dated Wednesday, August 27, August 27 – eight days after Tulsi Gabbard, American director of National Intelligence. Britain withdrew its controversial demand Global Apple to access the data of users if necessary.
Gabard said at that time Post on X The UK agreed to give up its instructions to provide a “back door” for the tech giants, “access to the protected encrypted data of American citizens and our civilian freedom”.
The BBC understood when Apple had not yet received any formal communication from the governments of America or Britain.
It is not clear that this new court document only refers to the initial intentions of the UK government, or if it indicates that the UK government has not yet left a desire to reach Apple users from all over the world, including the people of America.
Apple refused to comment, but says On your website It sees privacy as “fundamental human rights”.
Apple has earlier said that he will “never make a back door” in his products.
Cyber security experts agree that once such an entry point, it is only a matter of time before bad actors also discovered it.
No Western Government has so far succeeded in efforts to force big technical firms like Apple to break its encryption.
The US government has earlier asked for this, but Apple has refused.
In 2016, Apple opposed a court order To write software that would allow American authorities to reach a gunman’s iPhone – although it was able to successfully access the FBI device after it was resolved.
Similar cases have been followed, including 2020, When Apple refused to unlock Iphones of a man who performed a collective shooting at the US airport.
