UK Drops Backdoor Mandate for Apple Encryption, Confirms US Intelligence Official

The UK has dropped its backdoor mandate for Apple encryption. According to Reuters, the mandate would have enabled access to the protected, encrypted data of American citizens. Apple has been marketing the use of end-to-end encryption as a way of ensuring user privacy. End-to-end encryption scrambles data to prevent third party access.

Months of Engagement

The UK rescinded Apple’s backdoor demand following months of engagement between American and British officials.

“Over the past few months, I’ve been working closely with our partners in the UK, alongside @POTUS and @VP, to ensure Americans’ private data remains private and our Constitutional rights and civil liberties are protected. As a result, the UK has agreed to drop its mandate for Apple to provide a ‘backdoor’ that would have enabled access to the protected encrypted data of American citizens and encroached on our civil liberties,” U.S. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard said in a post on X.

The UK government declined to comment on the operational aspects of the matter. However, the government emphasized that London and Washington have a lasting joint security and intelligence arrangements that include protecting privacy.

“We will continue to build on those arrangements, and we will also continue to maintain a strong security framework to ensure that we can continue to pursue terrorists and serious criminals operating in the UK. We will always take all actions necessary at the domestic level to keep UK citizens safe,” a UK government spokesperson said.

Apple Dispute and the UK Investigatory Powers Act

UK’s Investigatory Powers Act allows authorities to compel companies like Apple to remove encryption through what is known as a Technical Capability Notice (TCN). Companies that receive a TCN are legally bound not to confirm its existence publicly.

In February 2025, the UK government ordered Apple to develop a way for security services to access its encrypted user data. Following the order, Apple announced that it could no longer provide Advanced Data Protection (ADP), which is its highest-level security feature, in the country.

ADP provides end-to-end encryption for iCloud; only the account holder, not Apple or any third party, can decrypt that data. It’s unclear whether Apple will restore the feature in the UK.

In May this year, lawmakers in the U.S. raised concerns over Britain’s order demanding that Apple develops a backdoor to its encrypted user data. The lawmakers argued that such a backdoor could be exploited by authoritarian governments and cybercriminals. Apple had said it would not create a backdoor into its encrypted devices or services.

Apple appealed the order to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal in the UK. Earlier this year, US officials said they were investigating whether the British government had violated the CLOUD Act which prevents it from demanding access to US citizen data and vice versa.

Apple has also been under UK regulatory scrutiny for antitrust practices this year. In July 2025, UK regulator hit Apple with the strategic market status. Following the designation, UK regulators could compel Apple to adopt a fair, objective, and transparent criteria in app distribution by providing a complaint system and explaining rejections or delays.

A Welcome Move

Civil rights groups have welcomed the post by U.S. spy Chief Gabbard on UK’s Apple backdoor demand reversal.

“If true, this decision is hugely welcome. Creating any back door into our private data would be a reckless and potentially unlawful move from the government. As long as this power exists within the Investigatory Powers Act, it remains a risk that any future government might also try to use it to create a backdoor into other end-to-end encrypted services we all use,” Director of External Relations at Human Rights Organization, Liberty Sam Grant said.

Apple has engaged with regulators over encryption since 2016 when the U.S. government attempted to compel it into developing a tool to unlock an iPhone belonging to a suspected extremist.

Globally, governments have been attempting to bypass or undermine encryption claiming that it shields criminals from scrutiny. Experts and civil rights advocates have been condemning efforts to weaken encryption saying they put user security and privacy at risk.