Key points
- Apple last week withdrew some of its secure storage features from UK
- UK’s government wants less rigorous encryption to protect kids and prevent crime
WASHINGTON: The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), National Security Agency (NSA) and multiple other US intelligence agencies have been asked to examine a reported request from the UK government for Apple to implement a backdoor in their encryption, according to Sky News.
According to Sky News, Tulsi Gabbard, the US director of national intelligence (DNI), announced the measures in a letter to two US politicians who had raised concerns about the move.
The US media reported that Apple last week withdrew some of its secure storage features from the United Kingdom. It was reported previously that the UK government had asked the United States tech giant to give it access to users’ protected data worldwide.
To protect kids
Both the current Labour government, the previous Tory administrations and campaigners say they want less rigorous encryption to protect kids and prevent crime.
The United Kingdom government is said to have made the demand to Apple under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, which is also known as the “Snooper’s Charter”.
The government does not disclose whether it has made orders under the act, and has not commented on the specifics with Apple.
According to Reuters, US officials are examining whether the UK broke a bilateral agreement by reportedly demanding that Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab build a “backdoor” allowing the British government to access backups of data in the company’s encrypted cloud storage systems.
