UK silence over demand for Apple data access is farcical, lawyer says
AAPL•Apple says back door would weaken security
Apple, which itself has no access to the encrypted data of those who make use of its Advanced Data Protection feature on their devices, including iPhones and Mac computers, has said that if it creates an entry point for one government, that could be exploited by hackers or hostile states, weakening security for all.
Following Britain's demands, Apple withdrew its Advanced Data Protection feature for UK users in February last year, saying it would never build a back door.
UK secrecy over Apple data access demand challenged
Britain had dropped one order following negotiations with the U.S., but a lawyer for civil rights groups told a London tribunal on Thursday that the British government's refusal to confirm whether it has issued an order to bypass encryption to access customer data held by Apple has become "farcical".
