Apple has just won its long-running battle over encryption as the British government has dropped its demand that the company create a “backdoor” to access users’ encrypted data. While the company has yet to announce anything officially, the decision was confirmed by US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in a post on X.

In her post, Gabbard noted that she had worked “closely with our partners in the UK, alongside President Trump and @VP, to ensure Americans’ private data remains private and our Constitutional rights and civil liberties are protected.” She added: “As a result, the UK has agreed to drop its mandate for Apple to provide a ‘back door’ that would have enabled access to the protected encrypted data of American citizens and encroached on our civil liberties.”

What was the dispute?

The dispute between Apple and the UK government stemmed from the UK’s Investigatory Powers Act, often referred to as the “Snooper’s Charter.” The act gives authorities powers to compel technology companies to weaken encryption. Earlier this year, British authorities directed Apple to build a hidden access point into iPhones and iCloud services. Such a move would have allowed the UK government to bypass end-to-end protections and obtain private user data, including that of US citizens.

Apple resisted the order, stating it would never design such access. In February, the company withdrew its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature for UK users after the government’s demand. This feature provides end-to-end encryption for iCloud data, ensuring only device owners can unlock it. Apple then also challenged the order before the UK’s Investigatory Powers Tribunal.

US objected to UK’s demand

UK’s demand to Apple also raised tensions between Washington and London, as American officials warned that the UK’s request risked violating the CLOUD Act. It’s a bilateral agreement that prevents either country from directly compelling access to other’s citizens’ data. Gabbard sent a letter to lawmakers earlier this year, warning that Britain’s request might amount to an “egregious violation” of the accord, according to a Reuters report.

US lawmakers had also cautioned that any such backdoor could be exploited by cybercriminals and authoritarian governments.

Not Apple’s first clash over encryption

Interestingly, this is not the first time Apple has clashed with governments over encryption. In 2016, the company refused a US court order to unlock the iPhone of a suspected extremist, insisting that any backdoor in its systems would compromise the security of millions of users worldwide. Apple has stood firm on its position that “the company has never built a backdoor or master key to any of our products or services, and we never will.”

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