Apple launches legal challenge over UK ‘back door’ order
Apple is intensifying its battle with the British government, which has demanded a “back door” into its most secure iCloud storage system – Advanced Data Protection – by lodging a legal challenge aimed at reversing the directive.
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The iPhone maker has made its appeal to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, an independent judicial body that examines complaints against the UK security services, according to people familiar with the matter.
The Silicon Valley company’s legal challenge is believed to be the first time that provisions in the 2016 Investigatory Powers Act allowing UK authorities to break encryption have been tested before the court. The Investigatory Powers Tribunal will consider whether the UK’s notice to Apple was lawful and, if not, could order it to be quashed.
The case could be heard as soon as this month, although it is unclear whether there will be any public disclosure of the hearing. The government is likely to argue the case should be restricted on national security grounds…
The iPhone maker launched its legal complaint appealing against the order last month at about the same time as it withdrew its most secure online back-up service from the UK, rather than comply with the TCN.
Despite Apple pulling the service, the British government still believes the Big Tech company has failed to comply with its order, which can also be used to access the data of individuals outside the UK.
The UK’s move has brought condemnation from US President Donald Trump and his newly appointed intelligence chief, who are pressuring the British government to back down.
Trump compared the UK’s demand to Chinese surveillance, while Tulsi Gabbard, US director of national intelligence, said tapping Americans’ data would be an “egregious violation” of privacy that risked breaching the two countries’ data agreement.
Via: Financial Times
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