Apple launches second legal challenge to UK iCloud backdoor order, per report - 9to5Mac
Skip to main content
Toggle social menu
Toggle dark mode
Search for:
Submit
Toggle search form
Toggle dark mode
Apple launches second legal challenge to UK iCloud backdoor order, per report
Zac Hall | Aug 3 2026 - 7:34 am PT
3 Comments
Apple’s effort to fight back against a UK-mandated "backdoor" to encryption continues, according to a new Financial Times report.
Tim Bradshaw reports that Apple filed a new legal challenge in July against an attempt by the UK government to force access to encrypted user data.
The report details Apple’s latest effort to push back against an attempt by the British government to weaken encryption for Apple users in the region.
The iPhone maker last month launched a new legal complaint at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal over the UK government’s controversial demand that Apple allow it access to encrypted cloud backups of data belonging to British users, according to an order issued by the court.
The dispute began in early 2025, when the British government secretly ordered Apple to provide access to data protected by Advanced Data Protection for iCloud users worldwide.
Because Apple does not hold the encryption keys, complying would require weakening or redesigning the service.
Apple responded by stopping new UK users from enabling Advanced Data Protection and challenging the order before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.
The company maintains that it has never built and will never build a backdoor or master key.
US pressure eventually led the UK to drop the demand covering American users. It later emerged, however, that the worldwide order had been replaced by one targeting British users.
You can read today’s full report from the Financial Times here for the latest.
Do more with your Apple products
Apple AirTag 2 | Add Find My tracking to keys, bags, bikes, more
AirPods 4 | Apple’s newest wireless headphones
AirPods Pro 3 | Apple’s best wireless headphones
Beats USB-A to USB-C Cable | The official CarPlay cable
Wireless CarPlay Adapter | No more plugging in required
Withings Body Comp | Best smart scale for Apple Health
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel
Featured
from 9to5Mac<br>9to5Mac Logo
Mac Studio: Here’s what Apple has in store for this fall and beyond
Michael Burkhardt
Aug 1 2026
Apple’s rumored AirPods with cameras could potentially debut as soon as next month
Michael Burkhardt
Aug 2 2026
New leaks cover iPhone Ultra timing, iPhone Pro’s design next year
Ryan Christoffel
Aug 3 2026
A $1,399 starting price for the iPhone 18 Pro doesn’t seem credible, even for Apple
Ben Lovejoy
Aug 3 2026
Podcast
Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:
Comments
Expand<br>Close<br>comments
Expand<br>Close<br>comments
Guides
News
Author
Zac Hall
apollozac
Zac covers Apple news, hosts the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, and created SpaceExplored.com.