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Archive link: https://archive.is/3Pp0U https://archive.is/3Pp0U I was wondering whether this is about Advanced Data Protection, which encrypts almost all data
by newscracker 2y ago
Archive link: https://archive.is/3Pp0U https://archive.is/3Pp0U
I was wondering whether this is about Advanced Data Protection, which encrypts almost all data end-to-end on iCloud. It’s only later in this report that it gets into this key detail:
> At issue is cloud storage that only the user, not Apple, can unlock. Apple started rolling out the option, which it calls Advanced Data Protection, in 2022.
Before stating this, the article says:
> 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.
This means Apple would be prevented from providing Advanced Data Protection to users in the U.K.
Not making Advanced Data Protection available is made worse by this requirement:
> One of the people briefed on the situation, a consultant advising the United States on encryption matters, said Apple would be barred from warning its users that its most advanced encryption no longer provided full security.
Apple can appeal, but is forced to comply meanwhile (until the appeal is heard) anyway:
> Apple can appeal the U.K. capability notice to a secret technical panel, which would consider arguments about the expense of the requirement, and to a judge who would weigh whether the request was in proportion to the government’s needs. But the law does not permit Apple to delay complying during an appeal.
- _Algernon_ 2y agoIf they had some balls, they would just stop offering icloud altogether in the UK until they have appealed. Let's see how the judge feels when half the country can't access their files anymore and Apple points to this decision as the reason.
- eterm 2y agoApple doesn't have the same dominance in the UK than it does in the US, so the UK would probably just tough that one out.
- MortyWaves 2y agoI have zero clue where you’re getting this from. iPhone is incredibly popular and every politician has one.
- izacus 2y agoIt's very likely that iCloud is outright disabled via MDM on those politician iPhones anyway, so they probably wouldn't even notice.
- pjc50 2y agoThe phones tend to be personal phones. We found that out when there was a big investigation trying to retrieve Whatsapp messages.
- michaelt 2y agoIn the UK the employment arrangements of politicians are very unconventional. In some ways, they're more like independent contractors than salaried employees. If your MP has an office in their constituency? They rent the office and buy all the computers and desks and printers and whatnot out of their own pocket, and get the expenses reimbursed later on. The separation between work life and professional life is also extremely blurry. After all, you have to build up a network of supporters and donors and people in the party who like you before you can get elected. So hundreds of your best supporters and closest allies already have your personal number saved against your name in their phone. I think they do not have MDM.
- wkat4242 2y agoTrue, the UK is one of the few European countries where iOS is bigger than android just like in the US. I work in mobile management and we see those a lot in northern Europe. Where they're scarce is in South and East Europe. Here in Spain no person has even tried to SMS me (which is the fallback for iMessage which I don't have) for 6 years or so :). I also don't have RCS enabled. It's all WhatsApp and Telegram.
- AlchemistCamp 2y agoYes. Due to higher prices, iPhones are more popular in richer countries.
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- CSSer 2y agoThen it sounds like they don’t have much to lose ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- echelon_musk 2y ago> the law does not permit Apple to delay complying during an appeal. Seems absurdist. They have to implement the backdoor, appeal, and only if the appeal is successful can they disable it.
- _Algernon_ 2y agoApple can't offer icloud with encryption. It doesn't force them to offer the service at all afaict? Forcing a company to offer service at all seems like a gigantic judicial overstep IMO.
- bArray 2y agoNot just most of the judges, but most of the MPs who voted on this. Let them eat their own cake. I think they could do something like what Tik Tok did, by letting users know why they can no longer provide the service. I would personally give Apple money to see them actually stand-up to this. What's probably more concerning is the number of companies not complaining about this at all.
- Someone 2y ago> when half the country can't access their files anymore and Apple points to this decision as the reason. Governments are extremely powerful. They may issue a gag order (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gag_order https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gag_order) that makes it illegal for Apple to do that.
- donohoe 2y agoGag orders affect information, not whether they continue to provide a service or not.
- _Algernon_ 2y agoEven in that case, Apple could withdraw from the market. If push comes to shove and apple actually called their bluff and withdrew completely from the UK market, I'd bet that that government would become so unpopular that they would not be elected again for quite some time.
- Marsymars 2y agoI expect everyone would read between the lines if Apple simply offered "no comment".
- ben_w 2y agoUK judges are not elected, and don't do things on the basis of what the public thinks. This headline comes to mind: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enemies_of_the_People_(headline) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enemies_of_the_People_(headlin...
- HPsquared 2y agoJudges only interpret the law as laid down by parliament. And, in theory at least, parliament cares about public opinion.
- ben_w 2y agoEven to the extent that parliament does care — and both this lot and their predecessors have ignored a lot of criticism about this specific law — turning public disfavour into a change to the law is often a slow process. I don't see UK judges getting motivated to rule in favour of a foreign company because they took their ball and went home, not even in cases where the ball happens to be very popular.
- chrisjj 2y ago> Apple points to this decision as the reason. Unlikely. That's illegal.
- coretx 2y agoRoll out the change in the city of London first and watch the finance sector crash :D The rest of the UK probably won't have to follow suit.
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]