Apple Removes Advanced Data Protection Feature in the UK Following Government Order

Apple has decided to remove its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature from iPhones in the UK, which offered end-to-end encryption for iCloud data, making it only viewable by the account holder. This decision follows a “secret order” from the UK government, demanding Apple to create a backdoor to access users’ data globally. Consequently, in the UK, Apple and the government could potentially decrypt users’ iCloud data. Apple expressed disappointment but clarified that it is not creating a backdoor or master key. Despite the removal of ADP, 14 iCloud data categories still receive automatic encryption, including iCloud Keychain, Health, and FaceTime. US congressmen have urged the Director of National Intelligence to stop the order due to Americans’ right to privacy. The UK’s Home Office has not commented on the issue.​

Source: Business Insider – Apple yanks privacy-enhancing feature in UK after facing ‘secret’ government order