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BBC News
14-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Apple encrypted data row case begins in secret
Apple's encrypted data case against the UK government has begun in secret at the Royal Courts of Home Office has demanded the right to access data from Apple users that have turned on Advanced Data Protection (ADP), a tool that prevents anyone other than the user - including the tech giant - from reading their says it is important for privacy - but the UK government says it needs to be able access data if there is a national security BBC - along with civil liberties groups and some US politicians - argue the case should be heard in Friday's session of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal - which is hearing the matter - was held behind closed doors. It is not clear whether later phases of the case will be opened to the public - the BBC has submitted a written argument that it should well as the BBC, journalists from the Guardian, the Telegraph, PA, Bloomberg, and Computer Weekly attended the Royal Courts of Justice but were not admitted into the court James Eadie KC, who previously represented the government in significant cases such as Shamima Begum's citizenship appeal, was seen entering the Thursday, five US politicians from across the political divide urged the court to remove what they call the "cloak of secrecy" surrounding the row - which they say has major security implications.A group of civil liberties groups made a similar plea, saying barring the media would be an "affront to the global privacy and security issues that are being discussed." Security v Privacy The case is about balancing national security against privacy is end to end encrypted, meaning no-one can access files that have been secured with it apart from their end to end encrypted services in the UK include Signal, Meta's WhatsApp, and Apple's February, it emerged the UK government was seeking the right to be able to access data protected in this way using powers granted to it under the Investigatory Powers Act allows it to compel firms to provide information to law enforcement responded by pulling ADP in the UK and then launching legal action to challenge the government's says agreeing to what the UK is asking for it would require the creation of a so-called backdoor, a capability critics say would eventually be exploited by hackers."As we have said many times before, we have never built a backdoor or master key to any of our products or services and we never will," Apple says on its Home Office has previously told the BBC: "The UK has a longstanding position of protecting our citizens from the very worst crimes, such as child sex abuse and terrorism, at the same time as protecting people's privacy."The UK has robust safeguards and independent oversight to protect privacy and privacy is only impacted on an exceptional basis, in relation to the most serious crimes and only when it is necessary and proportionate to do so."
BBC News
13-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Pressure grows to hold secret Apple privacy hearing in public
US politicians, civil rights campaigners and the BBC are all calling for a High Court hearing about a data privacy row between Apple and the UK government to be held in tech giant is taking legal action after the Home Office demanded the right to access customer data protected by its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) cannot access data stored in this way currently - but the UK government says it needs to be able to see it if there is a national security BBC understands the matter will be considered at a closed hearing of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal at the High Court on Friday morning. In an open letter, five US politicians from across the political divide have urged the Tribunal to remove what they call the "cloak of secrecy" surrounding the row - which they say has major security letter has been signed by Senators Ron Wyden and Alex Padilla, and Members of Congress Warren Davidson, Andy Biggs and Zoe Lofgren."It is imperative that the UK's technical demands of Apple - and of any other US companies - be subjected to robust, public analysis and debate," they BBC has contacted Apple for a response. The Home Office declined to comment. Separately, a group of civil liberties organisations has also written to the Tribunal president, Lord Justice Brother Watch, Index on Censorship, and Open Rights Group argue there is "significant public interest" in "on what basis the UK government believes it can compel a private company to undermine the privacy and security of its customers"."Holding this Tribunal in secret would be an affront to the global privacy and security issues that are being discussed," Open Rights Group Executive Director Jim Killock told the BBC. "This is bigger than just the UK or Apple." The BBC is also petitioning the Tribunal for the hearing to be in public so it can report what is said by the parties present. Data privacy versus national security ADP is contentious because it is end to end encrypted, meaning no-one can access files that have been secured with it apart from their February, it emerged the UK government was seeking the right to be able to access data protected in this way using powers granted to it under the Investigatory Powers Act allows it to covertly compel firms to provide information to law enforcement responded by pulling ADP in the UK and then launching legal action to challenge the government's is understood the matter will come before Lord Justice Singh on it relates to the security services, it is scheduled to be held in an earlier statement, Apple said: "Enhancing the security of cloud storage with end to end encryption is more urgent than ever before."Apple remains committed to offering our users the highest level of security for their personal data and are hopeful that we will be able to do so in future in the UK."The Home Office has previously told the BBC: "The UK has a longstanding position of protecting our citizens from the very worst crimes, such as child sex abuse and terrorism, at the same time as protecting people's privacy."The UK has robust safeguards and independent oversight to protect privacy and privacy is only impacted on an exceptional basis, in relation to the most serious crimes and only when it is necessary and proportionate to do so."
BBC News
12-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Secret hearing on Friday in Apple and UK government data row
Apple's appeal against a UK government demand to be able to access its customers' most highly encrypted data is set to be considered at a secret hearing at the High Court on Friday, the BBC is due to be considered by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal - an independent court which has the power to investigate claims against the UK intelligence US tech giant took legal action earlier this month in response to the Home Office's demand for the right to access customer information protected by Apple's Advanced Data Protection (ADP) Apple cannot access data stored in this way and therefore is unable to share it with law enforcement if issued with a government says it needs to be able to see it if there is a national security US tech giant took legal action earlier this month in response to the Home Office's demand for the right to access customer information protected by Apple's Advanced Data Protection (ADP) declined to comment. The Home Office and the Tribunal have been approached by the BBC. The hearing is due to be held in private because it relates to the security services, but campaigners say the public has a right to hear it."This hearing should not be held in secret," Caroline Wilson Palow, legal director at Privacy International told the BBC."The public has a right to know whether or not the security of a service that could be used by millions or perhaps billions of people worldwide is being undermined." The row began in February when it first emerged the government was seeking the right to be able to access data protected by ADP, using powers granted to it under the Investigatory Powers Act allows it to covertly compel firms to provide information to law enforcement allows users with iCloud accounts and storage to secure photos, notes, voice memos and other data with end to end encryption, meaning no-one but the user - not even Apple - can access it. Getting round that would involve the creation of a so-called "backdoor" - a capability some fear bad actors would ultimately be able to the time Apple reiterated its long-standing commitment not to weaken the privacy or security of its systems. "As we have said many times before, we have never built a backdoor or master key to any of our products, and we never will," a spokesperson told the in February the row escalated, as Apple announced it was pulling ADP in the after that, the BBC learnt Apple was taking legal action by appealing to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal to try to overturn the government's its website, the Tribunal lists a hearing to be held before its president Lord Rabinder Singh on Friday listing makes no mention of Apple or the government, nor has the Tribunal confirmed if they are the parties involved however a source familiar with the matter has indicated that is the the statement it issued in February, Apple said it regretted the action it felt it had been forced to take."Enhancing the security of cloud storage with end-to-end-encryption is more urgent than ever before," it said."Apple remains committed to offering our users the highest level of security for their personal data and are hopeful that we will be able to do so in future in the UK."In a previous statement, a Home Office spokesperson said: "The UK has a longstanding position of protecting our citizens from the very worst crimes, such as child sex abuse and terrorism, at the same time as protecting people's privacy."The UK has robust safeguards and independent oversight to protect privacy and privacy is only impacted on an exceptional basis, in relation to the most serious crimes and only when it is necessary and proportionate to do so."
