The US director of the National Intelligence says that the UK has withdrawn its controversial demand to access the global Apple users’ data if necessary.
Tulsi Gabbard said in a 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 understands that Apple has not yet received any formal communication from the US or UK governments.
Home office has been contacted for comment.
In December, the UK issued Apple with a formal notice, which had the right to reach the data encrypted by its users worldwide.
However Apple himself cannot see the data of customers who have activated their most difficult safety tools, advanced data protection (ADP), which prevents anyone other than the user from reading their files.
To do this, it must break its own encryption methods.
“We have never created a backdoor or master key for any of our products or services, and we will never,” said this.
Instead, Apple responded by returning ADP from the UK market, and began a legal process to challenge the order. It was to be heard in a tribunal in early 2026.
It is not yet clear whether it will continue to move forward.
Due to the confidentiality around the government order issued under the Investigation Powers Act, it is not known whether other technical companies have also received demands.
WhatsApp, a messaging platform used by millions of British, says that it is not yet.
Notice, which neither Apple nor Home Office has ever confirmed, has angered the privacy campaigners. Privacy International and Liberty initiated their separate legal action against the UK government in response.
There is already a legal agreement between the US and the UK governments – data access agreement – which allows both countries to share data for law enforcement purposes.
