Mass Surveillance
The UK government is demanding access to Apple users’ personal files, a move that critics say will effectively strip away privacy rights under the guise of national security, and not just for Apple users either.
The UK government formally demanded Apple provide access to encrypted personal files on its devices on 7th February 2025. This demand has sparked concerns over mass surveillance and data security.
"Privacy is not an automatic right"
Apple, which says it opposes government-mandated backdoors, received the request under the Investigatory Powers Act with the Government claiming that this "will help prevent crime" with the demand part of a broader strategy said to "strengthen national security". A Home Office staffer said "privacy is not an automatic right" something so close to the WEF's policy as not to be a coincidence.
Documents from the Home Office confirm the request was sent to Apple’s legal team on 3 February 2025. Parliament discussed the issue in a closed session on 6 February 2025, with the Home Affairs Committee reviewing the proposed measures. No official public consultation has been scheduled.
The Information Commissioner’s Office published a report on 7 February 2025 citing that 82% of UK citizens oppose government access to encrypted data. A 2024 study by the University of Oxford found that weakening encryption increases cybersecurity vulnerabilities by 65%. The Home Office's own impact assessment, published in November 2024, acknowledged risks to personal data security.
The government’s demand confirms growing concerns about digital rights erosion and mass surveillance. As seen with previous legislative efforts, critics argue this move prioritises control over privacy protections.
If Apple resists, the government may pursue legal action or introduce stricter legislation. Should Apple comply, this may lead to increased scrutiny of other tech companies, setting a precedent that could see privacy protections dismantled across industries.
Professor Alan Woodward, cyber security expert from Surrey University, said he was "stunned" by the news, and privacy campaigners Big Brother Watch described the reports as "troubling".
"This misguided attempt at tackling crime and terrorism will not make the UK safer, but it will erode the fundamental rights and civil liberties of the entire population," the group said in a statement.
UK children's charity the NSPCC has previously described encryption as being on the front line of child abuse because it enables abusers to share hidden content.
But Apple says that privacy for its customers is at the heart of all its products and services.
In 2024 the company contested proposed changes to the Investigatory Powers Act, calling it an "unprecedented overreach" of a government.
One expert suggested "Criminals and terrorists will just pivot to other platforms and techniques to avoid incrimination. So it's the average, law abiding citizen who suffers by losing their privacy."
But the real reason for such measures is not catch criminals, it is to monitor the general public. It comes only a day after the Government issued a demand to do the exact same thing with bank accounts. There is also moves to join-up all of this data, along with the mass of data they already have on us it will mean that they can control us.
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