Privacy

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Apple pulled end-to-end encrypted backups in the UK after request for backdoor (www.bbc.com)

submitted 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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BBC News - Apple pulls data protection tool after UK government security row

"In a statement Apple said it was "gravely disappointed" that the security feature would no longer be available to British customers."

Washington post - Apple yanks encrypted storage in U.K. instead of allowing backdoor access

I guess removing access for the uk is better than backdooring it in silence. But still, not great.

Also, it is interesting comparing compliance on this with complying with the EU on sideloading apps.

Original title: 'Apple caved and pulled end-to-end encrypted backups in the uk' - record of bad take title

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[–] [email protected] 32 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

Apple did not cave

caving would've been to build the backdoor

End to end encryption is MEANINGLESS if someone else also has a key

They removed a feature in the region to avoid setting a precedent that they would backdoor their feature on the whims of a shitty government

Now Apple gets to tell the UK that they would love to give fully encrypted backups but the UK government does not like encryption and security

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 days ago

I want to say I agree that Apple was put in a Lose Lose here. Building a backdoor would be detrimental, but removing the obstacle does no better. Now other countries can say "well shoot if we just force them to put a backdoor in they'll just remove the issue entirely". The main issue that the EU had with e2e is that they lacked the capability of accessing the data, Apple removing e2e in the EU moreorless said "yea sure whatever you can access the data, we just don't want you to access the rest of the worlds data"

But whats the next step for when the next country (say the US) also decides they want a piece of that action. "Oh let me remove e2e in the US as a whole as well".

This was an L across the entire board privacy and reputation wise. Apple has set the precedent that they will cave and cater to big brother corporations if it means they can stay in operation in that country. It completely destroyed all the trust that they got from the previous fight vs the US government as a result.

I don't really know what they could have done differently then fight it though.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

yeah I admit 'apple caved' was kinda just a gut reaction 'apple bad - encrypted backup good'.

If they fully caved we likely wouldn't have known about it, they'd have just put in a backdoor and given themselves and/or the uk encryption keys. Denying encrypted backups because of this is probably best.

You could argue apple does have the resources for a a legal battle, but you also can't really expect them to do that. They're not liberty or big brother watch. I doubt that would go well in domestic courts anyway, after that, the ECHR could be sympathetic on proportionallity & art.8 grounds but its a lot of effort.

maybe I should edit the title?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I would leave the title. It's important that people be critical but willing to adjust opinion.

Apple has fought these in the past (San Bernardino shooting / Phone unlock). It is honestly best for them to never take a case on this issue that they could lose.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

...edited but kept a note, it was bugging me.

I remember that case, yeah apple does some good here. I remember 404media running a story about iphones rebooting preventing unlock by police recently( 1 and 2 ). I guess you/they really don't want any present established for that.