UK Abandons iCloud Backdoor Request, Apple to Resume Encryption

The UK government has backed away from its controversial push for an encrypted iCloud backdoor. Earlier this year, officials issued a technical capability notice demanding Apple create a way to access users’ protected iCloud backups.

Apple immediately pushed back, halting its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) rollout in the UK and challenging the move before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.

Now, after months of tense negotiations, the demand has officially been dropped. U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard confirmed that the UK agreed to withdraw its request following discussions between Washington and London. The U.S. raised concerns that the UK’s demands clashed with the CLOUD Act, an international agreement governing cross-border data access.

Apple is now expected to reinstate its ADP service in the UK, which provides end-to-end encryption for iCloud backups, ensuring that even Apple cannot access customer data. For privacy advocates, the decision marks a major victory against government surveillance overreach and reinforces the strength of encryption as a fundamental safeguard for personal data.