# **Apple Deactivates Privacy Tool in UK Due to Encryption Controversy**
Apple has taken a decisive stand against the United Kingdom’s contentious surveillance legislation by shutting down its **Advanced Data Protection (ADP)** tool for users in the UK. This decision comes as a reaction to the UK government’s request for Apple to establish a **backdoor** to permit officials access to encrypted data, a demand that Apple has categorically declined.
## **Apple’s Move to Disable Encryption Features in the UK**
In the past, Apple permitted UK users to activate **end-to-end encryption** for their iCloud content via ADP. However, as of last Friday, this option is no longer accessible to new users in the UK, and existing users will be required to deactivate it shortly.
Apple clarified its choice in an announcement, stating:
> *”Apple can no longer provide Advanced Data Protection (ADP) in the United Kingdom for new users, and current UK users will eventually be required to deactivate this security measure.”*
This action is a direct reaction to the **UK Investigatory Powers Act**, commonly known as the **”Snooper’s Charter.”** This legislation empowers the UK government with extensive authority to demand access to encrypted data, both domestically and potentially across the globe.
## **The Dangers of Compromised Encryption**
Apple, along with privacy advocates, contends that acquiescing to the UK’s requests would **undermine security for all users**, rendering encrypted information susceptible to **hackers and foreign entities**.
The **Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA)**, a US technology industry organization, cautioned that recent cybersecurity incidents, like the **Salt Typhoon breach**, underscore the necessity of **robust encryption**. The organization expressed:
> *”End-to-end encryption could be the only protection separating Americans’ sensitive personal and business information from foreign threats.”*
By denying the establishment of a backdoor, Apple emphasizes its commitment to **user privacy and data safety** over government oversight.
## **Implications for Apple Users in the UK**
While ADP is no longer accessible, certain Apple services will continue to be **encrypted** by default, including:
– **iCloud Keychain**
– **Health data**
– **iMessage and FaceTime**
Nonetheless, **other iCloud services will cease to be encrypted**, encompassing:
– **iCloud Backup**
– **iCloud Drive**
– **Photos**
– **Notes**
– **Reminders**
– **Safari Bookmarks**
– **Siri Shortcuts**
– **Voice Memos**
– **Wallet Passes**
– **Freeform**
## **Apple’s Strong Position on Privacy**
Despite the demands from the UK, Apple has reaffirmed that it will **never develop a backdoor** for government access. The company declared:
> *”We have never constructed a backdoor or master key for any of our products or services, and we never will.”*
Apple aspires to reinstate **strong encryption safeguards** in the UK in the future but remains dedicated to **upholding user privacy** globally.
## **Conclusion**
Apple’s choice to disable ADP in the UK emphasizes the ongoing conflict between **privacy defenders and governmental surveillance initiatives**. While the UK government maintains that access to encrypted data is essential for national security, Apple and privacy specialists caution that **diluting encryption could endanger all users**.
As digital privacy grows more critical, Apple’s unyielding stance may influence other technology companies confronting similar governmental pressures. For the time being, users in the UK will have to navigate a digital environment with diminished encryption safeguards—unless future policy updates restore their entitlement to **strong data protection**.
