Apple has decided to eliminate the option for iCloud users in the United Kingdom to enable Advanced Data Protection. This feature allowed users to secure their iCloud data through end-to-end encryption. However, a recent directive from the UK government requires companies like Apple to implement backdoors in their encryption systems.
Instead of compromising the integrity of Advanced Data Protection, Apple has no choice but to withdraw the feature entirely. In a statement given to DMN, Apple indicated that users currently utilizing ADP in the UK will eventually have to disable this protective feature in order to continue accessing their iCloud accounts.
Here’s Apple’s statement:
“Apple can no longer offer Advanced Data Protection (ADP) in the United Kingdom to new users, and current UK users will eventually need to deactivate this security feature. ADP safeguards iCloud data with end-to-end encryption, ensuring that only the owner of the data can decrypt it, and only on their authorized devices. We are extremely disappointed that the protections afforded by ADP will not be accessible to our customers in the UK, especially given the ongoing increase in data breaches and other privacy threats. Enhancing cloud storage security through end-to-end encryption is more critical than ever. Apple is dedicated to providing our users with the highest security levels for their personal data and remains hopeful that we can resume offering these protections in the future in the United Kingdom. As we have stated numerous times, we have never created a backdoor or master key to any of our products or services, and we never will.”
