UK Splits Apple Encryption

LondonApple pulled its strongest iCloud encryption from new UK users.

Identical iPhones in Britain now differ in security by when owners enabled Advanced Data Protection.

The government ordered Apple, under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, to provide access to data protected by its strongest iCloud encryption.

Users who enabled the feature before February 2025 keep it, and no new UK user can.

How each outlet framed it

Hacker News leans critical: traces UK encryption two-tier access to February 2025 withdrawal of Advanced Data Protection for new users