Apple Pulls Advanced Data Protection in UK Following Government Backdoor Order

Apple has discontinued Advanced Data Protection (ADP) for new users in the United Kingdom, a significant shift in its cloud security offerings. The move, announced on Friday, comes just two weeks after it was revealed that the UK government secretly ordered Apple to implement a backdoor for accessing user data worldwide. The decision strips UK users of an optional tool that provides end-to-end encryption for iCloud content, including backups, photos, notes, and text messages.

"We are gravely disappointed that the protections provided by ADP will not be available to our customers in the UK given the continuing rise of data breaches and other threats to customer privacy," Apple said in a statement. The company emphasized that ADP's end-to-end encryption ensured only the data owner could decrypt it, and only on their trusted devices. With its removal, the feature is no longer an option for new UK users, though existing users can continue using it for now—albeit with a grace period to disable it manually if they wish to retain iCloud functionality.




The timing of Apple's decision aligns with mounting pressure from the UK government. Earlier this month, reports surfaced that U.K. authorities had invoked the Investigatory Powers Act to mandate a "technical capability notice," compelling Apple to grant access to global user data. That law also prohibits companies from disclosing such orders, a point underscored by the UK Home Office's refusal to comment on "operational matters." Apple has not confirmed the order's specifics but has long warned of such governmental overreach. Last year, it criticized a related UK bill as an "unprecedented overreach" that could allow the country to "secretly veto new user protections globally."

Rather than comply with the backdoor demand, Apple has opted to withdraw ADP in the UK entirely. "As we have said many times before, we have never built a backdoor or master key to any of our products or services and we never will," the company stated Friday. It framed the move as a stand against compromising user security, while expressing hope that it could restore robust protections in the UK down the line. For now, users attempting to activate ADP on their iPhones, iPads, or Macs will encounter a message stating that the feature is no longer available to new subscribers in the region.

The rollback doesn't affect default end-to-end encryption for services like iMessage, FaceTime, or health data. Still, it raises questions about the precedent this could set. Without ADP, Apple may be forced to provide user iCloud data to the U.K. government on demand. Given the country's recent crackdown on free speech, this heightens concerns over how such access might be used.

Apple's history shows a pattern of regional adjustments to maintain market presence. In China, for example, it partners with a local firm to operate iCloud, and it's collaborating with Alibaba on content filtering to roll out AI features. A decade ago, it famously resisted a US government request to unlock an iPhone, cementing its privacy stance. The UK situation, however, pits that principle against legal mandates with global implications.


For affected UK users, Apple promised further guidance on managing the change. Those already enrolled in ADP must manually turn it off during an unspecified window to keep using iCloud, as the company lacks the ability to disable it remotely.

Despite being forced to pull the ADP feature in the U.K., Apple says "enhancing the security of cloud storage with end-to-end encryption is more urgent than ever before."

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