Latest news with #Wilton
Epoch Times
23-04-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
British Government's Encryption Row With Apple ‘Really Strange,' Expert Says
The government's position in its privacy and encryption row with Apple is 'really strange' and 'doesn't make sense,' an expert has said. Earlier this year, it was reported that the government had issued a notice under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, asking Apple for the ability to access data from Apple users. This was said to include encrypted data protected by the tech giant's advanced data protection (ADP) tool, an opt-in tool within Apple's iCloud service which only an account holder can access, and is currently out of the reach of even Apple. The iPhone-maker subsequently said that it was withdrawing the tool from use in the UK, turning it off as an option for those not already using it, and will introduce a process to move existing users away from it, and brought legal action against the Home Office. Robin Wilton, senior director for internet trust at the Internet Society, a non-profit organisation which advocates for a safe and accessible internet for all, said he did not understand the government's approach. He said he believed it was unlikely the iCloud backups of Apple users would be a likely place for bad actors to keep records of their crimes. Related Stories 4/8/2025 4/7/2025 'I don't really see what they're expecting to achieve by this,' he told the PA news agency. 'I know that the standard answer is 'well, we'll catch the dumb criminals,' but for anyone sufficiently motivated, this seems like a really simple thing to bypass. 'And how many people are actually inadvertently or otherwise storying evidence of criminal activity in their iCloud backups? To that extent, it doesn't make a huge amount of sense to me.' The government's approach was widely criticised by online privacy campaigners and experts when reports of the request first appeared, and Wilton said the UK's stance could create trust issues in other areas of technology, including artificial intelligence (AI). 'I think there are some negative aspects to it as well which, in the context of this government, I find really bizarre,' he told PA. 'We've heard this government talk a lot about its expectations for AI and machine learning, to kickstart the UK economy. 'And the way I look at that is, I don't think that any AI worth having is going to run exclusively on your device—it's either going to make calls to a server or it's actually just going to be processed on the server and it'll fire a result back to you. 'So, what's the status of the stuff that happens on the server? Is that yours or or is that under the custody of the company running the server? 'This government's approach seems to be that it's not yours and that it's fair game. 'So if stuff that runs on other people's computers at my request or on my behalf is fair game, like iCloud backups, then I don't see why AI systems would be treated any differently. 'And therefore, why would I trust those systems with anything sensitive or confidential, let alone criminal.' Last week, the Home Office lost a bid to keep the legal action brought by Apple against the government private. Last month the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, a specialist tribunal which deals with allegations of unlawful intrusion and some national security matters, sat behind closed doors for an all-day hearing, where the identities of the parties involved were not publicly known. However, in a public judgment last Monday, judges at the tribunal said the case relates to legal action brought against the Home Office by Apple over the power to make technical capability notices under the Investigatory Powers Act. Following that ruling the Home Office said it did not comment on legal proceedings or operational issues, but its first priority was to 'keep people safe,' and stressed it was not seeking blanket data access. However, Wilton said that the government's stance could leave it open to other legal challenges in the future. 'I think this government's position is really strange,' he said. 'The prime minister must know, as a lawyer, that the EU already considers your mobile device to be part of your so-called private sphere, because it is so intimately linked to your life. 'And I don't see how you can look at that and think that the fact that I've allowed my device to back itself up in an encrypted way to the cloud means that I have a lower expectation of privacy than I do for what's on the device itself. 'So I think this government is laying itself open for challenges to this based on the Human Rights Act, on the basis that the encrypted data in my iCloud backup should be considered to be part of my personal and private sphere.'
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Government's encryption row with Apple ‘really strange', expert says
The Government's position in its privacy and encryption row with Apple is 'really strange' and 'doesn't make sense', an expert has said. Earlier this year, it was reported that the Government had issued a notice under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, asking Apple for the ability to access data from Apple users. This was said to include encrypted data protected by the tech giant's advanced data protection (ADP) tool, an opt-in tool within Apple's iCloud service which only an account holder can access, and is currently out of the reach of even Apple. The iPhone-maker subsequently said that it was withdrawing the tool from use in the UK, turning it off as an option for those not already using it, and will introduce a process to move existing users away from it, and brought legal action against the Home Office. Robin Wilton, senior director for internet trust at the Internet Society, a non-profit organisation which advocates for a safe and accessible internet for all, said he did not understand the Government's approach. He said he believed it was unlikely the iCloud backups of Apple users would be a likely place for bad actors to keep records of their crimes. 'I don't really see what they're expecting to achieve by this,' he told the PA news agency. 'I know that the standard answer is 'well, we'll catch the dumb criminals', but for anyone sufficiently motivated, this seems like a really simple thing to bypass. 'And how many people are actually inadvertently or otherwise storying evidence of criminal activity in their iCloud backups? To that extent, it doesn't make a huge amount of sense to me.' The Government's approach was widely criticised by online privacy campaigners and experts when reports of the request first appeared, and Mr Wilton said the UK's stance could create trust issues in other areas of technology, including artificial intelligence (AI). 'I think there are some negative aspects to it as well which, in the context of this Government, I find really bizarre,' he told PA. 'We've heard this Government talk a lot about its expectations for AI and machine learning, to kickstart the UK economy. 'And the way I look at that is, I don't think that any AI worth having is going to run exclusively on your device – it's either going to make calls to a server or it's actually just going to be processed on the server and it'll fire a result back to you. 'So, what's the status of the stuff that happens on the server? Is that yours or or is that under the custody of the company running the server? 'This Government's approach seems to be that it's not yours and that it's fair game. 'So if stuff that runs on other people's computers at my request or on my behalf is fair game, like iCloud backups, then I don't see why AI systems would be treated any differently. 'And therefore, why would I trust those systems with anything sensitive or confidential, let alone criminal.' Last week, the Home Office lost a bid to keep the legal action brought by Apple against the Government private. Last month the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, a specialist tribunal which deals with allegations of unlawful intrusion and some national security matters, sat behind closed doors for an all-day hearing, where the identities of the parties involved were not publicly known. However, in a public judgment last Monday, judges at the tribunal said the case relates to legal action brought against the Home Office by Apple over the power to make technical capability notices under the Investigatory Powers Act. Following that ruling the Home Office said it did not comment on legal proceedings or operational issues, but its first priority was to 'keep people safe', and stressed it was not seeking blanket data access. However, Mr Wilton said that the Government's stance could leave it open to other legal challenges in the future. 'I think this Government's position is really strange,' he said. 'The Prime Minister must know, as a lawyer, that the EU already considers your mobile device to be part of your so-called private sphere, because it is so intimately linked to your life. 'And I don't see how you can look at that and think that the fact that I've allowed my device to back itself up in an encrypted way to the cloud means that I have a lower expectation of privacy than I do for what's on the device itself. 'So I think this Government is laying itself open for challenges to this based on the Human Rights Act, on the basis that the encrypted data in my iCloud backup should be considered to be part of my personal and private sphere.'
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Government's encryption row with Apple ‘really strange', expert says
The Government's position in its privacy and encryption row with Apple is 'really strange' and 'doesn't make sense', an expert has said. Earlier this year, it was reported that the Government had issued a notice under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, asking Apple for the ability to access data from Apple users. This was said to include encrypted data protected by the tech giant's advanced data protection (ADP) tool, an opt-in tool within Apple's iCloud service which only an account holder can access, and is currently out of the reach of even Apple. The iPhone-maker subsequently said that it was withdrawing the tool from use in the UK, turning it off as an option for those not already using it, and will introduce a process to move existing users away from it, and brought legal action against the Home Office. Robin Wilton, senior director for internet trust at the Internet Society, a non-profit organisation which advocates for a safe and accessible internet for all, said he did not understand the Government's approach. He said he believed it was unlikely the iCloud backups of Apple users would be a likely place for bad actors to keep records of their crimes. 'I don't really see what they're expecting to achieve by this,' he told the PA news agency. 'I know that the standard answer is 'well, we'll catch the dumb criminals', but for anyone sufficiently motivated, this seems like a really simple thing to bypass. 'And how many people are actually inadvertently or otherwise storying evidence of criminal activity in their iCloud backups? To that extent, it doesn't make a huge amount of sense to me.' The Government's approach was widely criticised by online privacy campaigners and experts when reports of the request first appeared, and Mr Wilton said the UK's stance could create trust issues in other areas of technology, including artificial intelligence (AI). 'I think there are some negative aspects to it as well which, in the context of this Government, I find really bizarre,' he told PA. 'We've heard this Government talk a lot about its expectations for AI and machine learning, to kickstart the UK economy. 'And the way I look at that is, I don't think that any AI worth having is going to run exclusively on your device – it's either going to make calls to a server or it's actually just going to be processed on the server and it'll fire a result back to you. 'So, what's the status of the stuff that happens on the server? Is that yours or or is that under the custody of the company running the server? 'This Government's approach seems to be that it's not yours and that it's fair game. 'So if stuff that runs on other people's computers at my request or on my behalf is fair game, like iCloud backups, then I don't see why AI systems would be treated any differently. 'And therefore, why would I trust those systems with anything sensitive or confidential, let alone criminal.' Last week, the Home Office lost a bid to keep the legal action brought by Apple against the Government private. Last month the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, a specialist tribunal which deals with allegations of unlawful intrusion and some national security matters, sat behind closed doors for an all-day hearing, where the identities of the parties involved were not publicly known. However, in a public judgment last Monday, judges at the tribunal said the case relates to legal action brought against the Home Office by Apple over the power to make technical capability notices under the Investigatory Powers Act. Following that ruling the Home Office said it did not comment on legal proceedings or operational issues, but its first priority was to 'keep people safe', and stressed it was not seeking blanket data access. However, Mr Wilton said that the Government's stance could leave it open to other legal challenges in the future. 'I think this Government's position is really strange,' he said. 'The Prime Minister must know, as a lawyer, that the EU already considers your mobile device to be part of your so-called private sphere, because it is so intimately linked to your life. 'And I don't see how you can look at that and think that the fact that I've allowed my device to back itself up in an encrypted way to the cloud means that I have a lower expectation of privacy than I do for what's on the device itself. 'So I think this Government is laying itself open for challenges to this based on the Human Rights Act, on the basis that the encrypted data in my iCloud backup should be considered to be part of my personal and private sphere.'
The Independent
13-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Government's encryption row with Apple ‘really strange', expert says
The Government's position in its privacy and encryption row with Apple is 'really strange' and 'doesn't make sense', an expert has said. Earlier this year, it was reported that the Government had issued a notice under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, asking Apple for the ability to access data from Apple users. This was said to include encrypted data protected by the tech giant's advanced data protection (ADP) tool, an opt-in tool within Apple's iCloud service which only an account holder can access, and is currently out of the reach of even Apple. The iPhone-maker subsequently said that it was withdrawing the tool from use in the UK, turning it off as an option for those not already using it, and will introduce a process to move existing users away from it, and brought legal action against the Home Office. Robin Wilton, senior director for internet trust at the Internet Society, a non-profit organisation which advocates for a safe and accessible internet for all, said he did not understand the Government's approach. He said he believed it was unlikely the iCloud backups of Apple users would be a likely place for bad actors to keep records of their crimes. 'I don't really see what they're expecting to achieve by this,' he told the PA news agency. 'I know that the standard answer is 'well, we'll catch the dumb criminals', but for anyone sufficiently motivated, this seems like a really simple thing to bypass. 'And how many people are actually inadvertently or otherwise storying evidence of criminal activity in their iCloud backups? To that extent, it doesn't make a huge amount of sense to me.' The Government's approach was widely criticised by online privacy campaigners and experts when reports of the request first appeared, and Mr Wilton said the UK's stance could create trust issues in other areas of technology, including artificial intelligence (AI). 'I think there are some negative aspects to it as well which, in the context of this Government, I find really bizarre,' he told PA. 'We've heard this Government talk a lot about its expectations for AI and machine learning, to kickstart the UK economy. 'And the way I look at that is, I don't think that any AI worth having is going to run exclusively on your device – it's either going to make calls to a server or it's actually just going to be processed on the server and it'll fire a result back to you. 'So, what's the status of the stuff that happens on the server? Is that yours or or is that under the custody of the company running the server? 'This Government's approach seems to be that it's not yours and that it's fair game. 'So if stuff that runs on other people's computers at my request or on my behalf is fair game, like iCloud backups, then I don't see why AI systems would be treated any differently. 'And therefore, why would I trust those systems with anything sensitive or confidential, let alone criminal.' Last week, the Home Office lost a bid to keep the legal action brought by Apple against the Government private. Last month the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, a specialist tribunal which deals with allegations of unlawful intrusion and some national security matters, sat behind closed doors for an all-day hearing, where the identities of the parties involved were not publicly known. However, in a public judgment last Monday, judges at the tribunal said the case relates to legal action brought against the Home Office by Apple over the power to make technical capability notices under the Investigatory Powers Act. Following that ruling the Home Office said it did not comment on legal proceedings or operational issues, but its first priority was to 'keep people safe', and stressed it was not seeking blanket data access. However, Mr Wilton said that the Government's stance could leave it open to other legal challenges in the future. 'I think this Government's position is really strange,' he said. 'The Prime Minister must know, as a lawyer, that the EU already considers your mobile device to be part of your so-called private sphere, because it is so intimately linked to your life. 'And I don't see how you can look at that and think that the fact that I've allowed my device to back itself up in an encrypted way to the cloud means that I have a lower expectation of privacy than I do for what's on the device itself. 'So I think this Government is laying itself open for challenges to this based on the Human Rights Act, on the basis that the encrypted data in my iCloud backup should be considered to be part of my personal and private sphere.'
BBC News
18-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Sycamore Gap sapling to be planted in new East Durham reserve
One of 49 saplings grown from the illegally felled Sycamore Gap Tree is to be planted in a woman's memory at a new nature reserve. The site, at Warren House on the Durham coast, was bought by the National Trust in 2023.A week of community woodland planting begins on 31 March and the Tree of Hope sapling will be planted later in the reserve, Tina's Haven, is named after Tina Robson of Sunderland, who died of a drug overdose in 2020, aged of 35. Ms Robson's mother, Dr Sue Robson, said: "The planting of the Sycamore Gap sapling on the land later this year will symbolise that even after the worst adversity and tragedy, there can be recovery, healing, new beginnings and hope can grow in abundance."More than 21,575 trees will be planted at the reserve over the next few months, with 31 March chosen to mark what would have been Ms Robson's 40th birthday. The 34 hectare (84 acre) field is between National Trust land at White Lea Farm to the north and Cotsford Fields to the nature reserve will be a mixture of woodland, wood pasture, grassland, hedgerows, ponds and will form part of a wider programme of habitat restoration work, including wildflower-rich magnesian limestone Wilton, general manager for the trust's Derwent, Wear and Coast Portfolio said a continuous six mile (9.5km) stretch between Seaham and Horden was being sought."It's like another piece of a jigsaw, and managing land on a larger, joined-up scale brings many benefits," he said. Mr Wilton said the haven would also improve access to the coast with a circular path around the field to be to prepare the site began in February. Councillor June Clark, representing Horden, said: "I belong to probably the third generation living a stone's throw from these fields on Durhams Heritage Coast, who never set foot there in our youth for fear of our mother's wrath at venturing too close to the filth that was the beach. "Skip forward to today and it couldn't be more different. "Our coast is finding its audiences at last." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
