The UK Home Office has renewed its dispute with Apple by issuing a new technical capability notice (TCN) that seeks access to encrypted cloud backups of British users. This order follows an earlier attempt by the government to gain access to Apple’s Advanced Data Protection (ADP) service globally. This was a move that sparked resistance from the U.S. and criticism from Apple.
In response to the UK’s demands, Apple withdrew ADP for new users in the country earlier this year and plans to disable the service for existing ones. The company reiterated its position that it will “never” build a backdoor into its products, stressing its commitment to ensuring user privacy.
The details of the new TCN remain undisclosed, but reports indicate it is not limited to ADP and could extend to the more iCloud service. Under the Investigatory Powers Act, Apple cannot confirm or deny the existence of such notices.
Privacy groups have raised concerns that forcing Apple to weaken its encryption in the UK would create vulnerabilities affecting users worldwide. They warn that such a move could be exploited by criminal actors or hostile states, undermining global data security.
Despite government claims that access is necessary to protect citizens, the clash highlights the ongoing tension between national security priorities and the protection of personal privacy in digital services.
Reference
Milmo, D. (2025, October 1). UK government resumes row with Apple by demanding access to British users’ data. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/oct/01/uk-government-apple-data-british-telecoms