It was first the FBI, now it is that of the United Kingdom. Apple, the company that made confidentiality its flag, faces A new threat that could change everything. The British government, covered by its controversial law on investigative powers (known as “Fisgen Letter”), demanded that Apple creates a universal back door to access the encrypted iCloud data, not only from British citizens, But also users around the world.
Apple defended privacy as a fundamental human right, facing governments. We saw it in 2016 with the FBI And the case of the iPhone of a terrorist in San Bernardino, and reproduces with the United Kingdom. The controversy is gigantic and the debate, as always, turns between private life vs. security.
The United Kingdom asks Apple a rear door of iCloud data
The United Kingdom's request, published last month through a “technical capacity opinion”, is looking for something that is not previous in the world: Total and restrictions to all encrypted data stored in iCloud. This includes photos, messages, backups … and the worst. This would not only affect users of the United Kingdom, but any user in the world.
If that was not enough, The order prohibits Apple to communicate it to its usersLeaving millions of vulnerable people without knowing it. According to a report of The Washington PostDigital security experts have described him as “shocking” and “a shameless attempt to spy even non -British citizens”.
The law on the powers of the investigator was approved in 2016 and quickly nicknamed the “Fison letter” due to its large supervisory powers. This law It allows the British government to force technological companies To enter tools to intercept communications or access stored data, always under the argument of “national interests”. The changes introduced in 2023 have strengthened this law, allowing the issuance of world orders such as that which is now confronted.
What is at risk if Apple gives the United Kingdom
The problem of creating a rear door is not only that governments have access (which is already sufficiently worrying), but once opened, It is also available for “Bad Boys”. Pirates, cybercriminals and even authoritarian governments could benefit from it. This is not a utopian scenario. The rear doors were historically the weak point most exploited by the pirates. And here we are not only talking about individual confidentiality: global digital security could be compromised. Like Tim Cook, Apple CEO, said in 2016:
You can't create rear doors just for good. Once they exist, anyone can use them.
Let's go back years ago, because something like it happened
Yes. In 2020, the case of Ecrochat clearly indicated the power (and risks) of this type of technology. At that time, the The FBI has created an encrypted messaging application designed to catch criminals. Encrochat apparently protected privacy, but in fact informed the FBI from the start. More than 60,000 users (mainly criminals) have been trapped by this back door. They thought they used safe third parties, and behind the FBI, collected all the data.
If we are even further back, Apple had to face a similar situation, although less amplitude than that of the United Kingdom. In 2016, the FBI also asked the company to unlock the iPhone of a suspect in the attack Terrorist of San Bernardino, California. Apple has categorically refused, arguing that the creation of a rear door in the iOS operating system would endanger the intimacy of millions of users worldwide. The FBI finally managed to access the aircraft by other media, but this case marked a before and after in the defense of digital confidentiality.
What options have Apple?
The United Kingdom justifies its request under the fight against terrorism and organized crime. This order presents itself in a crucial geopolitical context. In the United States, The FBI and the NSA have precisely recommended the use of extreme encryption to protect themselves Cyberattacks led by state agents, such as those perpetrated by China. Apple is now trapped between British requests and US security recommendations. Are we faced at the start of the end for iCloud encryption? Apple has several options:
- Give the UK's requests: This would verify the confidence of its users in Apple and the reputation of dynamics as defenders of privacy. In addition, other governments (China or Russia) could make similar requests.
- Withdraw services like iCloud encrypted in the United Kingdom: This would leave British users without a key protective layer, but would protect the rest of the world. However, according to British law, this order could be applied even to accounts stored outside the United Kingdom.
- Fight in court: Although Apple can appeal this order, the law forces him to comply even if the case is resolved. This means that the back door would be operational while the legal process develops.
The order of the United Kingdom was issued last month in January 2025. According to the legislation, Apple is obliged to respond immediately to the requestEven if you plan to appeal to the court. This means that, while the legal process develops, the rear door is already operational. In addition, the government becomes a crime to reveal the existence of these applications, which limits Apple's capacity to inform the public of the implications of this change. In other words: this door can be and we do not know.
What happens if Google or the objective receives similar requests? Telegram faced a similar process in France this summer and won the battle. Are we ready for a less private internet, where surveillance is normal? He is not the first expert who asks him for the common good. On the other hand, If Apple decides to withdraw the services of the United Kingdom, millions of users are in limboObliged to seek less safe alternatives or completely abandon iCloud encryption.
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