Apple is turning off the Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature for iCloud for UK users, which enabled end-to-end encryption for all files users uploaded to the cloud, 9to5Mac reports .
Apple's move comes after the UK government demanded that it create a backdoor to iCloud that would allow the country's security services to access users' files in the cloud around the world. In order not to compromise the security of its users, the company could have either turned off the feature or appealed the government's demands, but for now it has chosen the former.
UK citizens who own company devices and use ADP will have to disable this feature to continue to have access to iCloud. It will be completely absent for new users.
Below you can read the full statement from the company representatives:
"Apple can no longer provide Advanced Data Protection (ADP) in the UK for new users, and those who already use the security feature will be forced to turn it off. ADP protects data in iCloud with end-to-end encryption, which means that data can only be decrypted by the user who owns it, and only on trusted devices. We are deeply disappointed that ADP protection will no longer be available to our customers in the UK, given the ongoing data breaches and other threats to customer privacy. Increasing the security of cloud storage with end-to-end encryption is more important than ever. Apple will continue to offer its users the highest level of security for their personal data and hopes that we can continue to do so in the UK in the future. As we have repeatedly stated, we have never created a backdoor or master key for any of our products or services, and we never will."