Latest news with #RabinderSingh
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Yahoo
Apple appealing against UK 'back door' order, tribunal confirms
LONDON (Reuters) -Apple is appealing against a British government order to create a "back door" to its encrypted cloud storage systems, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) confirmed on Monday. The IPT said in a written ruling that it had refused the British government's application that "the bare details of the case", including that it was brought by Apple, be kept private. Apple and Britain's Home Office, its interior ministry, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Washington Post reported in February that Britain had issued a "technical capability notice" to Apple to enable access to encrypted messages and photos, even for users outside the country. Apple has long said that it would never build a so-called backdoor into its encrypted services or devices, because once one is created, it could be exploited by hackers in addition to governments, a sentiment echoed by security experts. The iPhone maker in response to Britain's sweeping demands removed its most advanced security encryption for cloud data, called Advanced Data Protection, for new users in Britain. The Financial Times later reported Apple had brought an appeal against the order, but details of the case have been shrouded in secrecy and neither Apple nor the British government have publicly confirmed the technical capability notice. The IPT's ruling said that neither Apple nor Britain had confirmed or denied the accuracy of media reports, adding: "This judgment should not be taken as an indication that the media reporting is or is not accurate." The Home Office had argued that publicising the existence of the appeal or that it was brought by Apple could damage national security. But Judges Rabinder Singh and Jeremy Johnson said: "We do not accept that the revelation of the bare details of the case would be damaging to the public interest or prejudicial to national security." Monday's ruling follows a hearing in London last month, which was held in secret with media not allowed to attend.
The Guardian
12-03-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Apple to appeal against UK government data demand at secret high court hearing
Apple's appeal against a UK government demand to access its customers' highly encrypted data will be the subject of a secret high court hearing on Friday, the Guardian understands. The appeal will be considered by the investigatory powers tribunal, an independent court which has the power to investigate claims that the UK intelligence services have acted unlawfully. It is against an order served by the Home Office in February under the Investigatory Powers Act, which compels firms to provide information to law enforcement agencies. The Home Office asked for the right to see users' encrypted data in the event of a national security risk. Currently, not even Apple can access data and documents protected by its advanced data protection (ADP) programme. ADP allows users with iCloud accounts and storage to secure photos, notes, voice memos and other data with end-to-end encryption, meaning only the user can access it. Messaging services like iMessage and FaceTime would remain end-to-end encrypted by default. Apple said the removal of the tool would make users more vulnerable to data breaches from bad actors and other threats to customer privacy. Creating a 'back door' would also mean all data was accessible by Apple, which it could be forced to share with law enforcement possessing a warrant. Last week, Computer Weekly reported that Apple was intending to appeal against the secret order. The tribunal has taken the unusual step of publishing a notification of a closed-door hearing before its president, Lord Rabinder Singh, on the afternoon of 14 March. The tribunal listing does not mention either Apple or the government, nor has the tribunal confirmed if they are the parties involved. The hearing is due to be held in private because it relates to the security services, but a media campaign led by Computer Weekly argued that the hearing should be held in open court since the case is a matter of public interest and the appeal has already been leaked. Representatives from news organisations including the Guardian, as well as some civil society groups, are supporting Computer Weekly in its petition. In a statement issued in February, Apple said it was 'gravely disappointed' it was forced to take the decision to stop offering advanced data protection in the UK, 'given the continuing rise of data breaches and other threats to customer privacy'. A spokesperson 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 the future in the United Kingdom. '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 and the Home Office both declined to comment on Friday's hearing. The tribunal has been approached by the Guardian.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
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 understands. It is due to be considered by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal - an independent court which has the power to investigate claims against the UK intelligence services. The 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) programme. Currently Apple cannot access data stored in this way and therefore is unable to share it with law enforcement if issued with a warrant. The government says it needs to be able to see it if there is a national security risk. The 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) programme. Apple 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." What Apple pulling Advanced Data Protection means for you 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. The Act allows it to covertly compel firms to provide information to law enforcement agencies. ADP 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 exploit. At 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 BBC. Later in February the row escalated, as Apple announced it was pulling ADP in the UK. Shortly after that, the BBC learnt Apple was taking legal action by appealing to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal to try to overturn the government's demand. On its website, the Tribunal lists a hearing to be held before its president Lord Rabinder Singh on Friday afternoon. The 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 case. In 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."
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."
