U.S. Intelligence Director Addresses UK's Apple Backdoor Demand

Tulsi Gabbard, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, has addressed reports of a secret order from the UK government directing Apple to create a backdoor into encrypted iCloud data.

In a letter dated February 25, 2025, to Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Andy Biggs, Gabbard confirmed she was not informed of the alleged directive—issued under the UK's Investigatory Powers Act of 2016—before it surfaced in the press. The order, which we wrote about earlier this month, reportedly demands Apple provide UK authorities with access to encrypted user data worldwide, a move that prompted the company to pull its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature for new UK users.

Gabbard's letter, sent in response to a February 13 congressional inquiry from Wyden and Biggs, recognizes the serious implications of the UK's alleged order. She expressed "grave concern" about any foreign government mandating backdoors into American companies' systems, calling it a "clear and egregious violation" of U.S. citizens' privacy and a potential cybersecurity risk. The congressional letter had cited recent breaches, like the Salt Typhoon hack of U.S. telecoms and the 2023 Microsoft email compromise, as evidence of the dangers posed by weakened encryption.


The Director noted that she has sought input from the CIA, DIA, DHS, FBI, and NSA on the reported UK actions and plans to engage with British officials. She also directed a senior intelligence officer to assess the civil liberties impact, while her legal team reviews the order's compatibility with the U.S.-UK CLOUD Act agreement. That agreement, she wrote, prohibits the UK from demanding data on U.S. persons or individuals located in the United States—restrictions that could render the reported order a violation.

Apple has not publicly confirmed receiving the order, a silence likely enforced by the UK's gag provisions. However, as we reported on February 22, the company withdrew ADP in the UK rather than comply, preserving its stance against building backdoors.

Gabbard committed to keep Congress informed as the situation develops.

Our intelligence relationships with foreign partners are of vital importance to our national security, however, my obligations as Director of National Intelligence include protecting both the security of our country and the God-given rights of the American people enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. I look forward to working with my foreign counterparts to achieve both. I remain committed to keeping Congress currently and fully informed of developments on this and other intelligence-related matters.


You can read the full letter here. Please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for more updates!