Apple pulls an end -to -end encryption feature for UK users after the government requested back

Apple confirmed on Friday that “can no longer” offer a security feature that allows users in the United Kingdom to encrypt their iCloud data.

In a statement provided to TechCrunch, Apple spokesman Fred Sainz stated that the company Extended data protection The feature will no longer be available to new users and current UK users “will ultimately have to deactivate this security feature.”

“We are seriously disappointed that the ADP defenses will not be available to our UK customers, given the continuous increase in data violations and other customer confidentiality threats,” the company said.

“Improving the security of cloud storage with end-to-end encryption is more successful than ever,” the statement said.

The message comes after The United Kingdom Government has been reported to have been ordered Apple earlier this year to build a backward This would allow the British authorities to “blanm” the access to the data of users stored on the Apple cloud servers, even if so it is End -to -end encryptedS This request, regarded as unprecedented in modern democracy, Alarmed Privacy and Security expertsWho claims that if the British government prevails, the request will determine the precedent of authoritarian countries to follow.

Apple offers users the ability to include iCloud encrypted backups from end -to -end through advanced data protection. This feature effectively makes it impossible for anyone, including Apple and government authorities, to view data stored in iCloud by users who have given up.

A spokesman for the UK’s home office did not immediately answer TechCrunch’s request for comment.

Apple did not immediately say how the ADP deactivation process would work for users who had already turned it on before Friday.

James Baker, who works for the United Digital Digital Rights Digital Rights Organization, said “the actions of the domestic office have deprived millions of Britons of access to security function. As a result, British citizens will be at higher risk of their personal data and family photos falling into the hands of criminals and predators. “

Apple said that some types of data, including health data, messages stored in iCloud, and payment information that are encrypted by end to end for all users will not be affected by this change and will remain encrypted for all. But the UK users will not be able to refuse to use end -to -end encryption for other types of data such as photos, notes, backups, and other datawhich were encrypted under ADP.

For those who already have ADP, Apple said it would give customers more guidance soon, as well as a period of time to disable the feature to continue using iCloud.

ADP is not influenced by users outside the UK, Apple said and are also not affected by end to end.

“As we have already said many times, we have never built a rear or the main key to any of our products or services and we will never do it,” Apple said, connecting to his previous statementsS

BBC News reported This ADP stopped being an option for new users starting at 3:00 pm on Friday. TechCrunch also confirmed that ADP is no longer an option for new UK users.

Following the rise in encryption in the mid-1990s, governments around the world claim that this data destruction technology will allow criminals and terrorists to violate the law while avoiding law enforcement. Over the years, authorities have always found a way, from access to non -cripped backups to use of spyware, to access to data directly to people’s devices.

“If you are not in the UK, you need to include ADP now,” Matthew Green, a cryptography expert and a teacher at John Hopkins University, wrote on x In response to the news.

“The more people use it, the more difficult it will be to rule out that way,” Green said.

Clarify the forms of data protected from advanced data protection in the ninth paragraph.

This story was updated to include James Baker’s statement.