Episode 267 - The United Kingdom's surveillance state is absolute now

Talking about the authoritarian surveillance that's becoming of the UK.

U.K. orders Apple to let it spy on users’ encrypted accounts: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/02/07/apple-encryption-backdoor-uk/

Secret order requires blanket access to protected cloud backups around the world, which if implemented would undermine Apple’s privacy pledge to its users.

Security officials in the United Kingdom have demanded that Apple create a back door allowing them to retrieve all the content any Apple user worldwide has uploaded to the cloud, people familiar with the matter told The Washington Post.

The British government’s undisclosed order, issued last month, requires blanket capability to view fully encrypted material, not merely assistance in cracking a specific account, and has [[[no known precedent in major democracies]]]. Its application would mark a significant defeat for tech companies in their decades-long battle to avoid being wielded as government tools against their users, the people said, speaking under the condition of anonymity to discuss legally and politically sensitive issues.

Rather than break the security promises it made to its users everywhere, Apple is likely to stop offering encrypted storage in the U.K., the people said. Yet that concession would not fulfill the U.K. demand for backdoor access to the service in other countries, including the United States.

US politicians furious at UK demand for encrypted Apple data: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yvn90pl5no

Two US lawmakers have strongly condemned what they call the UK's "dangerous" and "shortsighted" request to be able to access encrypted data stored by Apple users worldwide in its cloud service.

Senator Ron Wyden and Congressman Andy Biggs have written to national intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard saying the demand threatens the privacy and security of the US.

They urge her to give the UK an ultimatum: "Back down from this dangerous attack on US cybersecurity, or face serious consequences."

The BBC has contacted the UK government for comment.

"While the UK has been a trusted ally, the US government must not permit what is effectively a foreign cyberattack waged through political means", the US politicians wrote.

If the UK does not back down Ms Gabbard should "reevaluate US-UK cybersecurity arrangements and programs as well as US intelligence sharing", they suggest.