In a recent development that has drawn significant concern from global human rights organizations, the UK government’s decision to order Apple to provide access to encrypted cloud data has sparked a heated debate on privacy rights. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both expressed strong opposition, warning that the UK’s directive seriously undermines users’ privacy rights both domestically and internationally.
The order, which was reported by The Washington Post, was issued secretly by the UK Home Office in January 2025 under the Investigatory Powers Act of 2016. This legislation compels Apple to create a backdoor to access all content secured by end-to-end encryption through its Advanced Data Protection (ADP). The mandate effectively requires Apple to provide a blanket capability to access encrypted data for users around the globe.
Rights groups emphasize that this move is a potential threat not only to individual privacy but also to the safety of activists, journalists, and marginalized communities. Previous reports from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch highlighted the risks associated with both mass and targeted surveillance. Joshua Franco, a senior research adviser at Amnesty Tech, remarked that instead of encouraging companies to create safer data environments, such governmental demands for backdoors risk global privacy and security.
The UK’s international commitments, including adherence to Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 17 of the ICCPR, enshrine the right to privacy and protection against arbitrariness. Domestically, the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 regulate data handling practices. Internationally, there are established calls, such as from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, for states to comply with international human rights law when restricting encryption access.
Already, this order has attracted criticism from US lawmakers who have condemned the UK’s access request, highlighting the broader geopolitical implications of such actions. As of now, the UK Home Office and Apple have not publicly commented on this matter. Further developments are awaited as the implications of the order continue to be scrutinized by legal experts and human rights advocates.