Britain has withdrawn its demand for Apple to create a back door into encrypted user data after objections from U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. officials said on Monday.
U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard confirmed the reversal in a post on X, saying she had worked with Trump and Vice President JD Vance to ensure Americans’ “private data remains private” and constitutional rights were protected.
The dispute centered on a notice issued under the UK’s Investigatory Powers Act, which sought access to Apple’s Advanced Data Protection (ADP) tool. The iCloud feature prevents even Apple from accessing stored information. Apple suspended the service in the UK and launched legal action against the Home Office.
Trump criticized the request, comparing it to Chinese surveillance, and said he had told Prime Minister Keir Starmer in February that the plan was unacceptable.
Conservative MP David Davis welcomed the government’s retreat, saying a back door would weaken protections for users. Privacy groups had also warned it would undermine security.
UK police and intelligence agencies argue that encrypted services hinder investigations into terrorism and child abuse, but the government has faced growing criticism for attempts to bypass such protections.
A government spokesperson declined to comment on Apple directly, but said joint U.S.-UK security cooperation remains in place to address threats while safeguarding privacy.
