Apple has removed end-to-end encryption from iCloud in the UK following a secret government order, sparking concerns about global privacy.

In a decision that shakes up the global debate on digital privacy, Apple has removed its feature Advanced Data Protection (ADP) for iCloud in the UK, after receiving a secret order from the British government demanding covert access to users' encrypted data. The measure, based on the Investigatory Powers Act, forced Apple to create a backdoor in its security systems, something the company refused to do. Instead of compromising its encryption, Apple has chosen to completely remove the ADP feature in the country, sparking a wave of criticism over privacy rights and setting a worrying precedent for global data security.

Apple disables encryption in the UK

El February 21 2025, Apple removed its feature Advanced Data Protection for iCloud in the UK, depriving users of one of the company's most advanced layers of security. End-to-end encryption protected photos, notes, messages, and device backups, preventing any entity, including Apple, from accessing that data.

Apple's decision responds to a government order issued in January 2025 under the Investigatory Powers Act, which required the company to create a backdoor in its encryption to allow access to user data without their knowledge. Instead of complying with the request, Apple decided to completely remove the feature in the UK market, reiterating its position that will not compromise the security of its customers anywhere in the world.

What does this mean for UK users?

Apple users in the UK who had already activated Advanced Data Protection You will have to disable it manually in the next few days to continue accessing iCloud. Those who do not do so may lose access to certain sync and backup features on their devices.

Although removing encryption negatively impacts user security, Some features will continue to be protected with end-to-end encryption, including:

• iMessage and FaceTime
• Health app data
• ICloud Keychain

However, Device backups, photos, notes, and messages stored in iCloud will no longer have the same protection, which could expose them to greater security risks.

Apple has announced that will provide guidance to affected users in the coming weeks to help you adjust your security settings and evaluate alternatives to protect your information.

A dangerous precedent: the British government's order

UK government's decision to require a backdoor in Apple's encryption has sparked an intense debate about privacy and access to personal data.

The order, issued under a “technical capability notice” under the Investigatory Powers Act, went beyond previous government requests, as Not only did it demand access to British citizens' data, it also sought to keep the existence of the backdoor secret.

For many privacy advocates, this measure represents an unprecedented threat to digital rights, as it could set a precedent for other governments to make similar demands on tech companies. If Apple had given in, would have opened the door to similar requests from other countries, including regimes with a history of mass surveillance and repression of free speech.

US lawmakers react with concern

The impact of Apple's decision was not limited to the UK. Lawmakers in the US have expressed concern over what they see as a “dangerous precedent” in global digital security.

The senator Ron Wyden, one of the biggest advocates of digital privacy in Congress, called the UK lawsuit "a dangerous excess" and called on the US administration protect encryption from government intervention attempts.

For their part, members of the House Intelligence Committee They warned that Other nations could use the UK's action as justification for demanding similar access to encrypted data, which would endanger millions of users around the world.

In Washington, The removal of encryption from iCloud has rekindled the debate over the balance between national security and individual privacy, with some lawmakers proposing measures to strengthen encryption protections in international agreements.

Is this the end of secure cloud encryption?

The removal of Advanced Data Protection in the UK has raised alarm bells in the tech community. If more governments pressure Apple and other companies to weaken their security systems, digital privacy worldwide could be at risk.

Companies like Signal and ProtonMail have warned that Any attempt to weaken end-to-end encryption could be exploited not only by governments, but also by cybercriminals.

For now, Apple continues to maintain Advanced Data Protection in other markets, But the precedent set in the UK raises a troubling question: How long will Big Tech be able to resist government pressure to weaken the security of their users?

A conflict without a clear end

The case of Apple in the UK is not only a technical issue, but also a political and legal battle over the right to privacy in the digital age.

While the company has taken a firm stance by removing the feature rather than giving in, the pressure on other tech companies will only increase. The next steps by Apple and other tech giants will be key to defining the future of encryption and digital security around the world.

For now, the debate remains open: Should digital privacy give way to government demands, or is it a fundamental right that must be protected at all costs?