UK government seeks iCloud data access, potentially impacting European encryption standards

The UK government is again demanding Apple grant access to iCloud data, this time specifically targeting UK users. This escalates a dispute over data encryption that began in 2024. British authorities want Apple to create a backdoor into iCloud's Advanced Data Protection, which encrypts user data. Apple previously disabled this feature for new UK users rather than compromise global security. The case is now before the UK's Investigatory Powers Tribunal, with a decision expected in January 2026. This ruling could set a precedent for encryption debates in Europe and impact other tech companies.