Apple Challenges UK Demand for Access to Encrypted iCloud Backups at Tribunal

On July 13, Apple again filed a legal challenge with the UK Investigatory Powers Tribunal, contesting the British government's action to force access to users' encrypted cloud data. The tribunal has confirmed receipt of Apple's application, and a hearing has been scheduled for September 2026.

The case concerns a technical capability notice previously issued by the UK government, which requires Apple to remove encryption protections on cloud data so that law enforcement can access relevant content. A UK government spokesperson said the government supports strong encryption and privacy protection, but stressed that, where necessary and proportionate, law enforcement access to communications is vital to counterterrorism, tackling serious crime and child sexual abuse.

The legal dispute stems from Apple's iCloud Advanced Data Protection feature, introduced in 2022. The feature encrypts the vast majority of data in users' iCloud accounts, including messages and device backups. The UK government subsequently issued a technical capability notice requiring Apple to provide a way to bypass the encryption. In February 2025, Apple removed the feature from the UK market but did not comply with the government's data access requirements. Earlier, after intervention by the US, the UK government agreed not to seek access to US citizens' data, but it continues to push Apple to open access to data belonging to UK-based users. Negotiations between the two sides have reached an impasse.

Privacy organizations Liberty and Privacy International have joined Apple's legal action, supporting its challenge to the legality of the technical capability notice. Apple has repeatedly defended encryption publicly, saying it is essential to protecting ordinary citizens from unlawful surveillance, identity theft, fraud and data breaches. Proceedings in this case are normally closed to the public, and the specific contents of Apple's claim have not been made public.