{"text":[[{"start":8.92,"text":"Apple has launched a new legal challenge against the UK’s latest attempt to create a “backdoor” to access encrypted customer data, a year after the Home Office agreed to drop a previous order following a row with Washington."}],[{"start":22.16,"text":"The iPhone maker last month launched a legal complaint at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal over the UK government’s demand that Apple allow it access to encrypted cloud backups of data belonging to British users, according to an order issued by the court."}],[{"start":36.88,"text":"The UK retreated from its original demand for a backdoor that allowed access to data from UK and US customers last year, ending a diplomatic battle between London and Washington."}],[{"start":47.48,"text":"But UK authorities subsequently issued a new “technical capability notice” to Apple that did not apply to American users, the FT reported in October."}],[{"start":56.76,"text":"TCNs are issued under the UK Investigatory Powers Act, which the government maintains is needed by law enforcement to investigate serious crimes. They can force companies to provide the UK security services with access to customer data, even if such information is protected by secure encryption."}],[{"start":74.92,"text":"Apple is seeking to challenge the UK government’s power to issue such legal notices."}],[{"start":79.96,"text":"The court sent an order giving notice of the new Apple complaint to Privacy International. The human rights group, alongside fellow campaigner Liberty, had previously launched a separate complaint against TCNs at the IPT."}],[{"start":92.44,"text":"A case management hearing to discuss how the parallel complaints should be handled has been scheduled for next month, Privacy International told the FT."}],[{"start":100.72,"text":"“We are happy to learn that Apple is once again challenging the UK’s regime of secret orders,” Privacy International said, adding that the two legal challenges together were “crucially important to preserving all of our privacy and security”."}],[{"start":114.88,"text":"Apple confirmed the IPT’s filing but declined to comment further. It has consistently argued any such backdoor would make its systems less secure for all its customers."}],[{"start":124.46,"text":"The Investigatory Powers Act prohibits any recipient from acknowledging the existence of a TCN or discussing its contents."}],[{"start":131.88,"text":"A government spokesperson declined to comment on the Apple case, saying that it would not confirm or deny the existence of individual notices."}],[{"start":139.24,"text":"“The UK supports strong encryption and robust privacy protections but it is also vital that law enforcement can access communications when necessary and proportionate to protect the public from terrorism, serious crime and child sexual abuse,” the government said, adding that the Investigatory Powers Act had “strong safeguards and independent judicial oversight”."}],[{"start":160.24,"text":"Apple withdrew UK customers’ access to its iCloud Advanced Data Protection system in January 2025 after it received the original TCN."}],[{"start":169.44,"text":"ADP offers an optional layer of extra security for iCloud users, with customer data stored using end-to-end encryption so that even Apple is unable to access it."}],[{"start":178.84,"text":"“We have never built a backdoor or master key to any of our products, and we never will,” Apple said at the time."}],[{"start":185.22,"text":"The Home Office’s move ignited the biggest clash over encryption in almost a decade and provoked a furious response from Washington. US President Donald Trump likened the UK order to “something . . . that you hear about with China”."}],[{"start":198.06,"text":"Additional reporting by Lucy Fisher in London"}],[{"start":205.68,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1785816093_7189.mp3"}