Apple challenges UK order for backdoor access to iCloud accounts

Apple has launched a legal challenge against the British government over a directive requiring the company to create a backdoor for encrypted iCloud accounts, according to reports by the Financial Times.

The technology giant has filed a complaint with the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT), an independent judicial body, seeking to reverse the order.

The dispute began after a leak revealed that UK authorities, under the 2016 Investigatory Powers Act, had tasked Apple with developing a mechanism to allow law enforcement access to encrypted iCloud backups. In response, Apple has maintained that it has never built, nor will ever build, a backdoor or master key for any of its products or services. Instead, the company announced plans to end national access to its strongly encrypted version of iCloud storage, known as Advanced Data Protection.

UK security minister Dan Jarvis defended the government’s demand, asserting that the Investigatory Powers Act includes robust safeguards and independent oversight, ensuring that any access to encrypted data is obtained only on an exceptional, necessary, and proportionate basis. The original request would have permitted UK law enforcement to access an encrypted iCloud account following judicial approval of a warrant, although Apple has noted that it does not have access to this data itself.

The IPT has accepted Apple’s challenge and is expected to consider the case as early as this month. It remains unclear whether the hearing will be open to the public, as the government is likely to argue that the case should be restricted on national security grounds.

Apple has not provided further comment on its legal action, aside from reiterating its longstanding commitment to user privacy and encryption.

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