Apple has restricted its Advanced Data Protection encryption for devices in the U.K. following a government inquiry which requested access to encrypted data. This decision emerged after the U.K. Home Office invoked the Investigatory Powers Act, which permits law enforcement access to information under certain legal parameters. Apple emphasizes its commitment to user privacy, asserting that no backdoor access has been created for authorities. The Advanced Data Protection feature provides users with the highest level of data security, yet most don't opt-in for it. As of February 21, new users in the U.K. can no longer sign up for this feature.
In response to a U.K. government inquiry about access to data sequestered on Apple devices, Cupertino has removed access to the Advanced Data Protection encryption feature from the U.K.
According to the BBC, the government would have to follow a legal process to access such data, and would likely use it to target individuals already under investigation instead of wide swaths of the population.
Advanced Data Protection is Apple's most rigorous privacy measure. Data stored under this offers the highest level of protection, even keeping information hidden from Apple itself.
We have never built a backdoor or master key to any of our products or services and we never will, an anonymous Apple representative wrote in a statement.
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