The U.K. government has reportedly issued a new order to U.S. tech giant Apple (AAPL) to create a “back door” in its cloud storage service giving it the right to access British users’ personal data.
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National Security
According to articles in the Financial Times and the BBC, the new instruction is understood to replace a previous order stating that the U.K. authorities needed to be able to access the data of Apple users anywhere in the world, in the event of a national security risk.
In August, Britain dropped a mandate for the iPhone maker to provide a “back door” that would have enabled access to the protected encrypted data of American as well as British citizens, according to U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
U.S. lawmakers had raised concerns that the mandate could allow encrypted user data to be exploited by cybercriminals and authoritarian governments.
Back Door Vow
Apple, which has said it would never build a “back door” into its encrypted services or devices, appealed against the earlier order at the UK’s Investigatory Powers Tribunal.
On the reports of a new order, a British government spokesperson said: “We do not comment on operational matters, including for example confirming or denying the existence of any such notices. We will always take all actions necessary at the domestic level to keep UK citizens safe.”
In the early stages of the row earlier this year, Apple removed its toughest data protection tool, Advanced Data Protection (ADP), from the UK market and embarked on legal action.
A tribunal hearing is still due to take place in January 2026.
Tech Matters
This move matters for both Apple and the broader debate on encryption. A back door would have given officials a way into user data. But it also would have created an opening that hackers could exploit.
Apple has long said that if you make an exception for one group, the risks extend to everyone. Cybersecurity experts agree that no system can guarantee access for only the “good guys.”
Other firms like Meta Platforms (META) have faced pressure when expanding encrypted messaging services. The U.K. Home Office, for example, criticized Meta’s plan to encrypt Messenger, which has already joined WhatsApp in using end-to-end encryption.
It is why legal and regulatory issues are key risks for tech companies like Apple and its investors – see above.
With Britain stepping forward again, it could give other governments the drive to pursue strict decryption rules of their own.
Is AAPL a Good Stock to Buy Now?
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