“The UK seems like a free nation. It’s not. It is run by a tyrant, Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Shame on him for his totalitarian demand.”
Millions of iPhone users in the UK have been left reeling after Apple removed its highest level of data security, Advanced Data Protection (ADP), following demands from the Labour government.
The move—unprecedented in any country—comes after the Home Office issued Apple with a secret technical capability notice (TCN), ordering it to weaken its encryption under UK surveillance laws. This means that iCloud data belonging to British users will no longer be end-to-end encrypted, leaving it potentially accessible not just to Apple and the UK government but also to cybercriminals.
Apple responded by blocking new UK users from activating ADP on Friday afternoon, issuing a strongly worded statement expressing its disappointment with British authorities. “Apple can no longer offer Advanced Data Protection in the United Kingdom to new users, and current UK users will eventually need to disable this security feature,” the company said.
The tech giant, which had previously vowed never to build a backdoor into its products, reiterated its commitment to privacy, warning that removing ADP leaves customers exposed at a time when data security has never been more critical. “We are gravely disappointed that the protections provided by ADP will not be available to our customers in the UK given the continuing rise of data breaches and other threats to customer privacy.”
The decision means that UK-based iPhone users who previously had the highest level of encryption will now be downgraded to a weaker level of security, making them more vulnerable to hacking, surveillance, and potential government overreach.
Critics have slammed the UK government’s intervention. Matthew Feeney, from civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, said: “This decision by Apple is the regrettable consequence of the Home Office’s outrageous order attempting to force Apple to breach encryption. As a result, from today Apple’s UK customers are less safe and secure than they were yesterday.”
Even billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk appeared to weigh in, writing on X (formerly Twitter):
“This would have happened in America if President Donald Trump had not won.”
Michael Shellenberger, a globally respected authority on free speech and C.B.R. Chair of Politics, Censorship, and Free Speech at the University of Austin said:
“The UK seems like a free nation. It’s not. It is run by a tyrant, Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Shame on him for his totalitarian demand. And bravo to Apple CEO Tim Cook for defying the government. Please share this to warn the world that UK is no longer safe for free people!”
Why Has Apple Taken This Step?
The removal of ADP is a direct result of Apple’s refusal to comply with the UK government’s demand for a “backdoor” into its encryption. While Apple has remained tight-lipped about the specifics of the TCN, the company has repeatedly stated that it would rather withdraw security features than compromise encryption for any government.
The Home Office has refused to confirm or deny the existence of the order but defended its stance on encryption, claiming that unbreakable security helps criminals, terrorists, and paedophiles operate undetected online.
What This Means for UK iPhone Users
For existing users of ADP in the UK, Apple is giving time to disable the feature before they are automatically downgraded. New users, however, will find that they can no longer enable ADP at all.
Apple’s iMessage and FaceTime services remain end-to-end encrypted, meaning messages sent via these apps are still secure. However, any data stored on iCloud, including photos, notes, and backups, will now be accessible upon request from law enforcement or hackers who manage to breach Apple’s systems.
Security experts have warned that the government’s demands could set a dangerous precedent, with other tech companies potentially being forced to follow suit. Privacy advocates also argue that the move does little to prevent criminal activity while putting millions of law-abiding citizens at risk of cyberattacks and surveillance.
Public Outrage Grows
The backlash has been swift, with many social media users and security experts condemning the government’s stance. Cybersecurity professionals have also warned that this move may drive criminals towards alternative, more secure platforms while leaving ordinary users more vulnerable than ever before.
Apple has insisted that it remains committed to privacy and security, with hopes that it can restore ADP in the UK in the future. However, unless the government reverses course, British iPhone users will have to accept a lower level of security than their counterparts in the rest of the world.
Main Image: For illustration purposes only. Image created on Grok
