Apple has a really cool feature for those who are paranoid about their security called advanced data protection. Here’s what Apple says it does:
Advanced Data Protection for iCloud is an optional setting that offers Apple’s highest level of cloud data security. When a user turns on Advanced Data Protection, their trusted devices retain sole access to the encryption keys for the majority of their iCloud data, thereby protecting it with end-to-end encryption. For users who turn on Advanced Data Protection, the total number of data categories protected using end-to-end encryption rises from 14 to 23 and includes iCloud Backup, Photos, Notes, and more.
The problem with that, if you want to call it a problem, is that nobody including Apple can look at your data. That was a problem for the UK government apparently who demanded a “backdoor” so that they could look at anything that they wanted. Apple’s response to that was to pull the feature from the UK. That’s a non-trivial move. And Vincentas Baubonis, Head of Security Research at Cybernews agrees:
“Apple’s decision to drop Advanced Data Protection in the UK is a massive step backward for user privacy. End-to-end encryption is what keeps personal data truly safe – without it, iCloud backups become a goldmine for hackers, governments, and anyone looking to exploit sensitive information.
The biggest concern here is that Apple made this decision under government pressure. If the UK can force one of the world’s most powerful tech companies to weaken security, other governments will take note and may push for similar concessions. This could lead to a domino effect where encryption is gradually abandoned, and that would put users everywhere at greater risk.
In cases like this, it’s not just law enforcement that benefits – cybercriminals do too. A single security vulnerability can open the floodgates to mass data breaches, identity theft, and financial fraud. Now, millions of UK users have fewer options to secure their personal data compared to users in other countries – at a time when cyber threats are escalating for both individuals and businesses.
Instead of increasing safety, stripping encryption protections makes people more vulnerable. If governments truly want to protect their citizens, they should be pushing for stronger encryption, not weaker.”
Now nobody knows what Apple’s reasoning for pulling this feature might be. And we may never know. But it would have been nice to have Apple stand up to the UK government on this because every citizen deserves privacy. Including from their governments.
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This entry was posted on February 26, 2025 at 12:55 pm and is filed under Commentary with tags Apple. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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Apple Rolls Back Advanced Data Protection Due To UK Government Demands
Apple has a really cool feature for those who are paranoid about their security called advanced data protection. Here’s what Apple says it does:
Advanced Data Protection for iCloud is an optional setting that offers Apple’s highest level of cloud data security. When a user turns on Advanced Data Protection, their trusted devices retain sole access to the encryption keys for the majority of their iCloud data, thereby protecting it with end-to-end encryption. For users who turn on Advanced Data Protection, the total number of data categories protected using end-to-end encryption rises from 14 to 23 and includes iCloud Backup, Photos, Notes, and more.
The problem with that, if you want to call it a problem, is that nobody including Apple can look at your data. That was a problem for the UK government apparently who demanded a “backdoor” so that they could look at anything that they wanted. Apple’s response to that was to pull the feature from the UK. That’s a non-trivial move. And Vincentas Baubonis, Head of Security Research at Cybernews agrees:
“Apple’s decision to drop Advanced Data Protection in the UK is a massive step backward for user privacy. End-to-end encryption is what keeps personal data truly safe – without it, iCloud backups become a goldmine for hackers, governments, and anyone looking to exploit sensitive information.
The biggest concern here is that Apple made this decision under government pressure. If the UK can force one of the world’s most powerful tech companies to weaken security, other governments will take note and may push for similar concessions. This could lead to a domino effect where encryption is gradually abandoned, and that would put users everywhere at greater risk.
In cases like this, it’s not just law enforcement that benefits – cybercriminals do too. A single security vulnerability can open the floodgates to mass data breaches, identity theft, and financial fraud. Now, millions of UK users have fewer options to secure their personal data compared to users in other countries – at a time when cyber threats are escalating for both individuals and businesses.
Instead of increasing safety, stripping encryption protections makes people more vulnerable. If governments truly want to protect their citizens, they should be pushing for stronger encryption, not weaker.”
Now nobody knows what Apple’s reasoning for pulling this feature might be. And we may never know. But it would have been nice to have Apple stand up to the UK government on this because every citizen deserves privacy. Including from their governments.
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This entry was posted on February 26, 2025 at 12:55 pm and is filed under Commentary with tags Apple. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.