On Friday, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch voiced their strong objections to a UK government directive that mandates Apple to provide access to its cloud data.
These human rights organizations contend that the directive poses a serious threat to the privacy rights of users in the UK and around the globe.
Secret Order and Backdoor Access
A report from The Washington Post reveals that in January 2025, the UK Home Office issued a secret order compelling Apple to allow security authorities access to vast amounts of encrypted data in its cloud services.
This order, which relies on the Investigatory Powers Act of 2016, requires Apple to create a backdoor in its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) encryption feature, a system established to ensure that only individual users can access their data—effectively preventing even Apple from accessing it.
This alarming directive reportedly demands that security personnel be granted broad capabilities to view encrypted information from Apple users worldwide.
Adding to the controversy, the law criminalizes any discussion or acknowledgment regarding such governmental requests.
Concerns Over Surveillance
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have a longstanding history of highlighting the perils associated with extensive government surveillance, particularly emphasizing its impact on vulnerable groups such as human rights advocates, journalists, and LGBTQ+ individuals.
With the rise of digital communication platforms, the specter of state surveillance looms larger, amplifying these organizations’ concerns about privacy rights.
International Obligations and Responses
A senior advisor from Amnesty Tech underscored the importance of strong encryption as a crucial defense against intrusive government actions.
They urged governments to promote enhanced data protection by technology companies rather than pursuing potentially dangerous backdoors that might endanger users’ safety on a global scale.
The UK is obligated by international agreements to uphold the significance of privacy rights.
Both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) protect individuals from arbitrary intrusions into their private lives, emphasizing the fundamental right to privacy.
Within the UK itself, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 outline strict guidelines for the collection, storage, and usage of personal data by both businesses and government bodies.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has also called on countries to ensure that any encroachments on privacy rights, particularly regarding encryption technologies, adhere to international human rights standards.
In a related development, two lawmakers from the United States have expressed their disapproval of the UK’s request for access to Apple’s encrypted data.
As of now, both the UK Home Office and Apple have refrained from commenting on the situation.
Source: Jurist