Apple has recently shut down one of its very advanced features, Advanced Data Protection (ADP), in the UK. This feature provided end-to-end encryption, which makes users’ data more secure. But now the UK government has given an order to Apple to provide a back door in its encryption system, so that the government can access users’ data without any problem. Apple refused by saying that if they create this back door, then not only the data of UK users, but also the data of users from all over the world can be exposed.
What is ADP Feature?
Advanced Data Protection is a security feature of Apple, which protects iCloud data through end-to-end encryption. This means that only the user can access his data and no other person, even if it is Apple, can access that data.
What was the order of the UK government?
The UK government had demanded from Apple that they should add a back door in their ADP feature, so that they can access the data of any user without their permission if needed. The reason given by the government for this is that it will help in national security and crime investigation. But Apple rejected this demand because it is against the privacy rights of users.
What decision did Apple take?
Apple refused to provide a back door to the UK government, but it took another decision which is equally harmful for users. Apple decided that it will shut down its ADP feature in the UK. This means that:
- New Apple users will not be given this feature.
- Users who are already using this feature will have to disable this feature after some time.
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Does this mean that Apple is fighting the government?
Many people are saying that Apple is fighting with the government and rejecting its demand. But in reality it is not so. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney said in a post that Apple has definitely refused to give the back door, but it has opened the front door. Meaning, now Apple does not need a back door to give users’ data to the government, it can access the data directly from the front door.
How is this decision of Apple for the users?
This decision is very bad for Apple users, because:
- Now the government can access the data of UK users at any time.
- Users will not even know when and why their data was accessed.
- The trust people put on Apple regarding privacy and security will now diminish.
Will the UK government need a warrant?
Yes, the government will need a warrant to access any user’s data. But most people believe that this is just a formality and the government can access users’ data without informing them.
Is this decision of Apple only for the UK?
Yes, for now this decision is only for UK users. ADP feature is still available in other parts of the world and users can protect their data with full encryption.
Privacy vs Security Debate
After this decision, a new privacy vs security debate has started. On one hand, the government says that this will help in the security of the country and crime investigation. On the other hand, privacy advocates say that this decision is against the basic privacy rights of users.
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Why did Apple take this decision?
Apple says that it will not provide a back door to the government, but it is taking this step to align its products with legal laws. Apple has said that it always gives utmost importance to the privacy of users, but it also respects government laws.
Conclusion
This decision of Apple raises a big question between privacy and security. In some places, users’ trust in Apple seems to be decreasing. This order of the UK government is giving birth to a new debate on whether the government should have access to the private data of users or not. Currently, this decision is limited to the UK only, but in the future, other countries can also make such laws. Now it remains to be seen how Apple handles this decision in the future and how it protects the privacy of users.
