iCloud security is on the line
After a legal challenge by Apple, the hearing about blowing open Apple’s iCloud encryption in the UK for the sake of national security won’t be kept secret, but it’s not clear when the details will be made public.
After the hearing about a mandated back door happened behind closed doors, Apple very nearly immediately filed an appeal, with the backing of most of the world’s governments, privacy advocates, and journalism organizations. That appeal has been heard, and at some point, the results of the hearing will be made clear.
The Investigatory Powers Tribunal rejected claims from the UK government that national security would be hurt by revealing the results of the hearing, or exposing who attended the hearing.
In short, the appeal found that there was no reason to restrict what it calls open justice, so the results of the hearing must be made clear — in due time. It’s not clear when that will happen, as case management orders will be made only after Apple and the UK government have time to consider the ruling, and propose drafts.
Interestingly, there is a larger judgement that has been handed down, private to the UK government and Apple. However, the extract from the ruling made the appeal results clear.
The saga began earlier in 2025, when an order, filed under the Investigatory Powers Act (IPA), sought to compel Apple to create a backdoor that would allow law enforcement access to user data. The backdoor may not be limited to just the UK, but may also be used in other countries too.
In response to the demand, Apple has instead removed the Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature for people in the UK.
And, after the order, Apple filed a legal complaint with the UK’s Investigatory Powers Tribunal, pushing back against the mandate requiring the back door.
The move marks the first time Apple has taken legal action against provisions in the 2016 Investigatory Powers Act, also known as the “Snooper’s Charter.” It’s a controversial law that expands the British government’s ability to monitor digital communications.
The UK government argues that access to encrypted data is crucial for national security, helping to combat terrorism, child exploitation, and other threats. However, critics warn that forcing Apple to create a back door would set a dangerous precedent, weakening global cybersecurity and exposing Apple users to hacking threats.
It’s not possible to create a backdoor that only the “good guys” can access. Not even government agencies like the CIA and the NSA can protect themselves from hacks.
Global backlash against UK surveillance demands
The UK’s Snooper’s Charter includes a gag order that prevents Apple and others from revealing that they’ve received these surveillance requests. Thankfully, this latest occurrence got leaked.
After some initial reporting about the backdoor engendering some backlash, Apple’s legal challenge drew international attention, including strong criticism from the U.S. government. For example, President Donald Trump compared the UK’s demands to authoritarian surveillance tactics used by China, on February 28.
U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard also criticized the order, calling it an “egregious violation” of privacy that could strain data-sharing agreements between the two countries.
Director Gabbard cited the CLOUD Act, which governs cross-border data access. The Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act, enacted in 2018, allows U.S. law enforcement agencies to access data stored overseas by U.S.-based technology companies when investigating serious crimes.
However, under this act, the UK is prohibited from issuing demands for data belonging to U.S. citizens or residents without following established legal protocols. Gabbard expressed “grave concern” over the UK’s order, stating it could undermine Americans’ privacy and civil liberties, and has initiated a legal review to assess potential violations of the CLOUD Act.
