How End-to-End Encryption Will and Won’t Change for Apple Users in the UK

Apple has disabled Advanced Data Protection in the UK after the government requested a backdoor for global data access. Instead of complying, Apple removed the feature, making iCloud backups, photos, notes, and other data accessible via standard encryption. This means Apple retains the access key, potentially allowing government or hacker access. However, end-to-end encryption remains for health data, passwords, Maps, Safari, Apple Card transactions, and iMessage. iCloud Mail, Contacts, and Calendar were never encrypted this way. The change applies only in the UK, while the feature remains available elsewhere.

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• Apple Disables Advanced Data Protection in UK After Government Backdoor Request

How End-to-End Encryption Will and Won’t Change for Apple Users in the UK

Apple Inc. has taken an unprecedented step by disabling its optional Advanced Data Protection feature in the UK. This feature, which provided end-to-end encryption for various iCloud services, has been removed following a directive from the UK government. Authorities had requested Apple to create a backdoor for global access to user data, but instead of complying, the company opted to disable the feature entirely.

What Will Change?

UK users will no longer be able to activate end-to-end encryption for iCloud backups, iCloud Drive, photos, notes, reminders, browser bookmarks, Siri shortcuts, voice memos, and Wallet app passes. This effectively reverts UK users to the security level before Advanced Data Protection was introduced in late 2022.

With this change, these services will now only have standard encryption, which secures data in transit and on Apple’s servers. However, Apple will retain the access key, making it possible for the company, government agencies, or even hackers to potentially access the data.

What Won’t Change?

Despite this adjustment, several Apple services will still maintain end-to-end encryption both in the UK and worldwide. This includes:

• Health data
• Passwords
• Screen Time settings
• Maps app data
• Safari browsing data
• Digital journal content
• Apple Card transaction history and payments
• Smart home data
• Messages in iCloud

Furthermore, Apple’s core communication services, iMessage and FaceTime, will continue to use end-to-end encryption.

What Is End-to-End Encryption?

End-to-end encryption ensures that only users can access their data, as the decryption keys are stored directly on their devices rather than on Apple’s servers. This significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, whether from hackers or governments.

It’s worth noting that even with Advanced Data Protection, Apple never provided end-to-end encryption for iCloud Mail, Contacts, or Calendar. That policy remains unchanged. For now, Advanced Data Protection is still available in other countries outside the UK.

Apple Disables Advanced Data Protection in UK After Government Backdoor Request

Apple has taken the rare step of disabling its Advanced Data Protection feature in the UK, which previously provided end-to-end encryption for cloud storage and other services.

This decision follows a directive from the UK government requesting Apple to create a backdoor for global access to user data. Instead of complying, Apple chose to remove the feature entirely. As a result, this change could make it easier for government authorities—or even hackers—to access user data stored in iCloud.

Apple introduced Advanced Data Protection in late 2022, giving users the option to encrypt their iCloud backups, photos, notes, and other data so that only their devices could access the information. With the feature disabled in the UK, users now rely on standard encryption, which protects data in transit and on Apple’s servers but allows the company to retain the access key. This means that if compelled by authorities, Apple could be forced to hand over user data.

Despite this rollback, end-to-end encryption remains in place for iMessage, FaceTime, health data, passwords, and other sensitive information. However, the removal of Advanced Data Protection highlights the growing conflict between tech companies prioritizing user privacy and governments pushing for broader surveillance powers. Apple’s decision could set a precedent for future encryption policies in other regions.