Apple is challenging the UK government's 'neither confirm nor deny' policy regarding secret orders for iCloud data access. During a hearing at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, Apple and civil rights groups argued that this secrecy prevents public scrutiny of legal proceedings.
The dispute began in January 2025, when the UK government reportedly ordered Apple to create a backdoor for encrypted iCloud data. In response, Apple removed the 'Advanced Data Protection' feature for UK users in February 2025 to avoid compliance with the request.
Although the UK government dropped its demand for US user data following pressure from the White House, it issued a new notice specifically targeting UK citizens. Apple has initiated a second legal challenge against this updated directive.
The government contends that disclosing the existence of such orders poses national security risks. The tribunal will rule on the secrecy policy at a later date, while a full hearing on the technical capability notices is not expected until next year.
