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The Foundation for Information Policy Research is an independent body that studies the interaction between information technology and society. Its goal is to identify technical developments with significant social impact, commission and undertake research into public policy alternatives, and promote public understanding and dialogue between technologists and policy-makers in the UK and Europe.

Announcements

The Home Office Technical Capability Notice to Apple

21 July 2025

FIPR has written a report explaining the key policy issues at stake regarding the Home Office's Technical Capability Notice issued to Apple. This notice requires Apple to make technical changes to its Advanced Data Protection service, which provides users with secure encrypted storage, to allow the UK Government to access encrypted user data on request. This order -- initially made in secret and which Apple is not allowed to discuss even with the US Congress -- effectively requires Apple to build a backdoor into its encrypted systems. It has been the source of significant controversy, with the US Government pushing back against the order and making it an issue in ongoing trade negotiations between the US and UK. We explain the key issues behind the case, arguing that this fundamentally breaks security and privacy for Apple's users, and outlining some of the many alternatives which law enforcement have to these backdoors.

Ben Collier, FIPR's chair, said: "It's not surprising that the Home Office's attempt to compel Apple to undermine the security of their products is facing resistance from the US Government. The UK Government’s order would effectively ban Apple from telling the US Congress what they had been asked to do. Our basic human rights and democratic freedoms rely on security, privacy, and the accountability of our institutions. Tactics like issuing encryption removal orders to tech companies will only make every iPhone user in the UK less secure. As the UK government's own guidance for companies and the public makes clear, strong encryption is at the heart of keeping the services we all use safe and secure. There is no way to undermine encryption which doesn’t leave huge weaknesses that criminals and hostile state actors can exploit. Law enforcement have much more effective tactics -- ones which don’t involve undermining our shared security -- to investigate and disrupt serious criminal activity where encryption is being used. The government would be sensible to step back and retract this notice, and instead focus on the important work of renewing the UK’s basic infrastructure, digital security, and privacy protections."

Read the report HERE.

For older FIPR publications and announcements see our archive.