The battle between Apple and the UK government over user data privacy has taken a new turn. The Cupertino company has filed a legal challenge with the Court of Investigative Powers (IPT)The reason is none other than the second secret order issued by the London government for Apple to create a backdoor in its iCloud encryption systems.
This new legal offensive, announced by the Financial TimesThis comes after the British government issued a "Technical capability notification" (TCN) which demands that Apple grant access to the encrypted data of UK users. Critics argue that this demand amounts to building a backdoor into iCloud backups that feature Advanced Data Protection (ADP), an end-to-end encryption system that even Apple cannot unlock.
Apple's new legal offensive
According to the published information, Apple filed its complaint with the IPT in July 2026. The company seeks to challenge the legality of the TCN and, in turn, the legal framework that allows the British government to issue this type of secret order. Apple maintains that it has never built and will never build a backdoor or master key.and that any weakening of the encryption would put the security of all users at risk, not just British users.
The case has been reported to the human rights group Privacy International, which had already filed a similar complaint against TCNs along with the organization Liberty. Both entities have requested that the proceedings be held in public, given the enormous public interest it has generated. Privacy International has welcomed Apple's decision and has pointed out that "it is of vital importance to preserve our privacy and security."
Background: The first order and the ADP withdrawal
This is not the first time the UK has attempted to access Apple's encrypted data. In early 2025, London issued a secret order demanding access to iCloud backups of users worldwide. Pressure from the United States government, then led by Donald Trump, forced the withdrawal of that order.However, the British government did not give up and, in October 2025, launched a second order aimed exclusively at users in the United Kingdom.
As a consequence of the first order, Apple made a drastic decision: deactivated Advanced Data Protection (ADP) for new UK usersThis feature, which provides end-to-end encryption, prevented Apple from accessing data even with a court order. By removing it, British users lost that extra layer of security, making them more vulnerable to cyberattacks and data breaches.
The role of Privacy International and the public debate
The fight isn't just Apple's. Privacy International and Liberty had already filed a complaint with the IPT questioning the legality of the TCNs. Both organizations have requested that Apple's case be processed jointly with theirs. and that the hearings be public so that the public can learn the details of these secret orders. The British government, for its part, maintains that the Investigatory Powers Act contains robust safeguards and is only used when strictly necessary, for example in cases of terrorism or child sexual abuse.
However, critics point out that any backdoor, however limited, can be exploited by malicious actors. Apple's argument is that a backdoor for a few ends up being a vulnerability for everyone.and that data from non-British users could also be compromised if shared with UK citizens.
Neither Apple nor the UK Home Office have commented publicly on the case, as the law prohibits them from discussing TCNs. What is clear, however, is that the tension between privacy and national security remains unresolved, and this new legal battle could set an important precedent for the future of encryption in Europe.
The IPT's decision, which has not yet been scheduled, will be key in determining whether the British government can continue to demand that tech companies weaken their encryption systems. Meanwhile, UK users have already seen their security reduced with the withdrawal of ADP, and the rest of the world is watching closely as this standoff unfolds between one of the most powerful tech giants and a government determined to access its citizens' private data.
