The UK government is reportedly preparing to withdraw from its push to force Apple to create a back door into its encrypted iCloud services. The move comes after significant opposition from the US government, which has warned the UK not to interfere with American technology companies.
According to officials who spoke to the Financial Times, the UK Home Office is now seeking a way to exit the dispute. One unnamed official said, “The Home Office is basically going to have to back down,” pointing to strong objections from US Vice President JD Vance, who believes the UK’s demand could violate the Cloud Act, a legal agreement between the two countries.
The officials also expressed concern that pushing further could be seen by the US as a threat to free speech and digital privacy rights. “It’s a problem of the Home Office’s own making, and they’re working on a way around it now,” one official said.
The conflict began in January 2025, when the UK secretly ordered Apple to give it access to user data stored on iCloud, including information from users around the world.
In response, Apple stopped offering its Advanced Data Protection feature—which provides full end-to-end encryption—to users in the UK. Apple also launched a legal appeal against the order.
In April, Apple won the right to publicly discuss the case. WhatsApp later announced plans to support Apple’s case in court by submitting evidence.
The situation has sparked a broader debate about user privacy, encryption, and government surveillance, with the US making clear it does not want foreign governments forcing changes on American tech companies.
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