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https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/uk-abandons-apple-backdoor-demand-after-us-diplomatic-pressure-2.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/uk-abandons-apple-backdoor-demand-after-us-diplomatic-pressure-2.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/uk-abandons-apple-backdoor-demand-after-us-diplomatic-pressure-2.jpg?resize=506,337 506w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/uk-abandons-apple-backdoor-demand-after-us-diplomatic-pressure-2.jpg?resize=1013,675 1013w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/uk-abandons-apple-backdoor-demand-after-us-diplomatic-pressure-2.jpg?resize=1265,843 1265w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1013px) 100vw, 1013px\"><figcaption> An Apple logo is reflected on glass at the Apple Store at Orchard Road on September 24, 2021 in Singapore. (Photo by Feline Lim\/Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"single-article__content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__content-inner has-drop-cap\"> <html readability=\"28.320268756999\"><body readability=\"57.934525818427\"><\/p>\n<p>The United Kingdom has withdrawn its demand that Apple create a backdoor to its encrypted cloud systems following months of diplomatic pressure from the United States, according to a statement from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.<\/p>\n<p>Gabbard announced the decision Monday on X, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DNIGabbard\/status\/1957623737232007638\">stating that the U.S. government<\/a> had worked closely with British partners \u201cto ensure Americans\u2019 private data remains private and our Constitutional rights and civil liberties are protected.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The reversal marks a significant development in the ongoing global debate over government access to encrypted communications and represents a victory for American officials concerned about protecting U.S. citizens\u2019 digital privacy rights. <\/p>\n<p>The British government\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/apple-uk-encryption-advanced-data-protection-privacy\/#:~:text=the%20Washington%20Post-,reported,-that%20British%20national\">original demand<\/a> came through a technical capability notice issued in January 2025 under the country\u2019s Investigatory Powers Act. The order would have required Apple to provide blanket access to end-to-end encrypted cloud data, including information belonging to users outside the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/apple-uk-encryption-advanced-data-protection-privacy\/\">Apple responded<\/a> to the British demand by disabling its Advanced Data Protection feature for U.K. users in February 2025. The feature provides end-to-end encryption for iCloud data storage, making it inaccessible even to Apple itself.<\/p>\n<p>The company expressed disappointment with the requirement, stating it had never built backdoors into its products and never would. Apple subsequently appealed the order\u2019s legality through the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, which denied the British government\u2019s attempts to keep the proceedings secret.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are gravely disappointed that the protections provided by ADP will not be available to our customers in the U.K., given the continuing rise of data breaches and other threats to customer privacy,\u201d Apple said at the time.<\/p>\n<p>American lawmakers had expressed significant concern about the U.K.\u2019s encryption demands. In February, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wyden.senate.gov\/imo\/media\/doc\/wyden-biggs-letter-to-dni-re-uk-backdoors.pdf\">wrote to Gabbard<\/a> arguing that forcing Apple to create backdoors would \u201cseriously threaten the privacy and security of both the American people and the U.S. government.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The lawmakers noted that Apple does not create different encryption software for different markets, meaning any backdoor created for British authorities would potentially affect American users. They suggested the U.S. should reconsider its cybersecurity and intelligence-sharing arrangements with the U.K. if Apple were forced to comply with the demands.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The dispute echoes previous conflicts between Apple and government authorities over encryption access. In 2015, Apple engaged in a prolonged legal battle with the U.S. government over providing access to an iPhone belonging to a terrorist who carried out the San Bernardino attack. The FBI <a href=\"https:\/\/fedscoop.com\/fbi-cracks-san-bernardino-shooters-phone-pulls-case-against-apple\/\">ultimately gained access<\/a> through a third-party vendor after Apple refused to create custom software to bypass the device\u2019s security.<\/p>\n<p><\/body> <\/p>\n<footer class=\"single-article__footer\" readability=\"3.7746710526316\">\n<div class=\"author-card\" readability=\"14\">\n<div class=\"author-card__avatar\">\n<figure class=\"author-card__image-wrap\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-card__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/uk-abandons-apple-backdoor-demand-after-us-diplomatic-pressure-1.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\" alt=\"Greg Otto\"> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h4 class=\"author-card__name\">Written by Greg Otto<\/h4>\n<p> Greg Otto is Editor-in-Chief of CyberScoop, overseeing all editorial content for the website. Greg has led cybersecurity coverage that has won various awards, including accolades from the Society of Professional Journalists and the American Society of Business Publication Editors. Prior to joining Scoop News Group, Greg worked for the Washington Business Journal, U.S. News & World Report and WTOP Radio. 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{"id":7907,"date":"2025-08-19T08:52:45","date_gmt":"2025-08-19T13:52:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=85630"},"modified":"2025-08-19T08:52:45","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T13:52:45","slug":"uk-abandons-apple-backdoor-demand-after-us-diplomatic-pressure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/2025\/08\/19\/uk-abandons-apple-backdoor-demand-after-us-diplomatic-pressure\/","title":{"rendered":"UK abandons Apple backdoor demand after US diplomatic pressure"},"content":{"rendered":"