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The UK government has quietly abandoned its controversial push to force Apple to weaken its encryption systems, according to U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
In a statement posted to X on Tuesday morning, Gabbard revealed that London had withdrawn a request that would have compelled Apple to create a so-called "backdoor" into its encrypted data storage. The move, she said, followed months of coordination between U.S. and UK officials, with support from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
"This mandate would have given government access to the protected personal data of American citizens and undermined civil liberties," Gabbard wrote. "The UK's decision to walk back its demand is a critical safeguard for privacy."
Earlier this year, reports suggested that Apple had been issued a secret Technical Capability Notice (TCN), a legal instrument under the UK's Investigatory Powers Act. Such notices cannot be publicly acknowledged by either the company or the government. In response, Apple temporarily suspended its "advanced data protection" service for iCloud users in the UK, removing end-to-end encryption from local accounts.
Apple declined to comment when asked about Gabbard's statement. A UK government spokesperson also refused to discuss the specifics but emphasized long-standing intelligence cooperation with Washington. "These arrangements include privacy safeguards such as the Data Access Agreement, which prevents either country from targeting the data of the other's citizens," the spokesperson said.
Civil liberties groups cautiously welcomed the news but warned that the risk has not disappeared. Sam Grant of the human rights organization Liberty said: "If confirmed, this is a hugely welcome step. But as long as the powers remain in law, future governments could attempt the same approach. The safest outcome is to repeal these provisions and protect end-to-end encryption."
Jim Killock, executive director of the Open Rights Group, struck a similar tone, noting that UK users remain uncertain whether Apple will reinstate advanced data protection. "Trust must be rebuilt. Until these laws are changed, the risk to security and privacy persists," he said.
In a statement posted to X on Tuesday morning, Gabbard revealed that London had withdrawn a request that would have compelled Apple to create a so-called "backdoor" into its encrypted data storage. The move, she said, followed months of coordination between U.S. and UK officials, with support from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
"This mandate would have given government access to the protected personal data of American citizens and undermined civil liberties," Gabbard wrote. "The UK's decision to walk back its demand is a critical safeguard for privacy."
Earlier this year, reports suggested that Apple had been issued a secret Technical Capability Notice (TCN), a legal instrument under the UK's Investigatory Powers Act. Such notices cannot be publicly acknowledged by either the company or the government. In response, Apple temporarily suspended its "advanced data protection" service for iCloud users in the UK, removing end-to-end encryption from local accounts.
Apple declined to comment when asked about Gabbard's statement. A UK government spokesperson also refused to discuss the specifics but emphasized long-standing intelligence cooperation with Washington. "These arrangements include privacy safeguards such as the Data Access Agreement, which prevents either country from targeting the data of the other's citizens," the spokesperson said.
Civil liberties groups cautiously welcomed the news but warned that the risk has not disappeared. Sam Grant of the human rights organization Liberty said: "If confirmed, this is a hugely welcome step. But as long as the powers remain in law, future governments could attempt the same approach. The safest outcome is to repeal these provisions and protect end-to-end encryption."
Jim Killock, executive director of the Open Rights Group, struck a similar tone, noting that UK users remain uncertain whether Apple will reinstate advanced data protection. "Trust must be rebuilt. Until these laws are changed, the risk to security and privacy persists," he said.
