UK drops dangerous data encryption back door demands!

Computerworld.com reported that “The UK has agreed to drop its mandate that Apple install a backdoor into the encrypted data stored on its devices, though it isn’t clear whether this is an overall change or simply a tweak to protect US citizens. The landmark move would be a victory for digital privacy experts that sets a precedent between the ongoing battle between tech companies and government surveillance.” The August 19, 2025 article entitled “UK agrees to drop dangerous data encryption backdoor demands, says US “https://www.computerworld.com/article/4042108/uk-agrees-to-drop-dangerous-data-encryption-backdoor-demands-says-us.html) included these comments about what “The UK wanted to access all the data”:

The UK wanted to force Apple (and conceivably others) to put a backdoor into their systems that could be used to access encrypted, private data. It issued a so-called technical capability notice making the demand under the country’s Investigatory Powers Act (the so-called “Snooper’s charter”) with an order that Apple open access to people’s encrypted data. This would have also left people outside the UK threatened by the deep surveillance state.

Apple refused, withdrew its Advanced Data Protection services in the UK, and has been challenging the Home Office order in a highly secretive court. No one in the UK is being told the results of these deliberations, on strength of a half-baked misunderstanding of “national security.” However, the US administration saw the decision as an attack on the rights of US citizens and has worked at the highest level to convince UK leaders to withdraw the request.

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard wrote on X: “Over the past few months, I’ve been working closely with our partners in the UK, alongside [President Donald J. Trump] and [Vice President J.D. Vance], to ensure American’s 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 ‘back door’ that would have enabled access to the protected encrypted data of American citizens and encroached on our civil liberties.”

The UK had argued that any such access would be protected by the safeguards it has in place, but digital privacy advocates mocked that argument.

Very interesting! What do you think?