Apple removes end to end encryption (ADP) in the UK

[InfiniteNoise]

For users who have it enabled, it'll be disabled later on, but it won't be done automatically, you just won't have access to your iCloud account until it's disabled.

As for getting around it, I'm not sure, from what I can understand, there are a number of factors in play, device location, where it was sold in, etc, VPN won't help you here.

 

[Cromulent]

I'm not an Apple user, can you just use a VPN to get around this? Or is it based on account settings or something?

A VPN just encrypts data in transit. End to end encryption is encryption while in transfer and at rest on a storage medium so that there is zero attack vector even if someone physically steals the hard drives or snoops on network data.

Edit: Ah, my bad. Read that wrong. Sorry.

 

[Raymond Lin]

So how does it know you’re a UK user. Must be a way to avoid

It’s a bit like Japanese iPhones knows you are in Japan so there is no true silent mode with the camera. It will make a shutter sound when in silent.

I guess it knows by a combination of

1 - When you activate it, you select UK.
2 - When you update the firmware, you are in the UK when doing so.

So if you go outside the UK, get an iPhone, and never update when you are in the UK, in theory you will still have ADP.

 

[Hotwired]

You can have hidden encrypted partitions that give you plausable deniability if you really want to be secure.

It's your device, what's the plausible deniability part.

 

[Dave85]

Was just thinking about this I use adp. Next iPhone buy in Ireland and setup. Use vpn and Irish esim. Should be good for alternative stores and adp?

 

[OverDrive]

I also didn't have this enabled, I recall being prompted about it being available a while ago and thinking that it's probably a good idea to turn it on, but just forgot about it thereafter. I really hope this is reversed, it does feel like a a gross erosion of our right to privacy.

This is an interesting article: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/02/uk-encryption-order-threatens-global-privacy-rights/

 

[Fubsy]

Ha, like they care about our rights.

 

[233]

I have no issue with this in its “intended use cases” ie security services but knowing this country you’ll end up with some tinpot local council using the same laws to snoop someone’s emails over the contents of their wheelie bin

 

[Bluecube]

Folks may find this link useful - https://support.apple.com/en-us/102651 It lists the data that’s encrypted and where the keys are stored and shows what data is accessible by Apple and therefore governments on request.

 

[Cromulent]

It's your device, what's the plausible deniability part.

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