The UK government’s push for Apple to create a backdoor into its cloud storage service has sparked renewed concerns about data security and privacy. According to the Financial Times, the Home Office has issued a new order to Apple, this time targeting only British users’ data.

The move is seen as an attempt by the Keir Starmer government to revive a policy that was previously met with opposition from Apple, privacy advocates, and the US government. The original demand, made in secret, would have required Apple to create a worldwide back door into encrypted iCloud data, compromising the security of users outside the UK.

Experts warn that creating a backdoor or weakening encryption for UK users would be technically impossible without impacting others. “If one back door exists, every hacker, surveillance fetishist, and tech-addicted stalker would spend vast resources locating that door and exploiting it,” says a digital security expert.

The Pandora’s Box of Harms

Weakening encryption would open a Pandora’s box of harms, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive information. This would not only compromise the security of UK users but also undermine international business transactions and damage data security worldwide.

As one expert notes, “Just look at the existence of the highly profitable surveillance-as-a-service ‘industry’ for proof that digital criminals can find and exploit weaknesses in encryption.”

The Unworkable Solution

The UK plan to create a backdoor for UK users only is fundamentally flawed. Anyone who understands technology and values data privacy will simply add additional encryption to their files, rendering the backdoor ineffective.

This move also raises questions about the constitutional rights of US citizens, who are still impacted by the UK’s demand. The US government’s opposition to the original policy was a key factor in its eventual withdrawal.

A Conclusion

The UK government’s push for an encryption backdoor is a misguided attempt to compromise data security and privacy. As experts warn, weakening encryption would have far-reaching consequences, compromising the security of users worldwide. It’s time for the UK government to reconsider its approach and prioritize data security over surveillance and control.

Inspired by

• https://www.computerworld.com/article/4067081/uk-government-still-wants-apple-to-break-data-encryption.html

Sources

• apple.com
• ft.com
• cryptomator.org
• eff.org
• applemust.com