Apple filed a second legal challenge in July against a British government order requiring access to encrypted iCloud backups, according to the Financial Times.
The case is being heard by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal. Apple’s complaint targets a directive that would force the company to let UK authorities read data that users have locked with Advanced Data Protection, Apple’s strongest iCloud encryption setting.
What British Users Lost in 2025
Advanced Data Protection encrypts iCloud backups in a way that Apple cannot read. Only the account holder holds the key.
When the UK government first issued its secret demand in early 2025, Apple stopped offering the feature to new users in Britain rather than comply.
Users already enrolled kept access, but no new UK customers could opt in. That restriction remains in place today.
How the UK Order Changed Shape
The original 2025 order applied worldwide, covering iCloud data belonging to users in any country.
After pressure from Washington, the UK dropped the portion of the demand that covered American users. A revised order then emerged targeting British users specifically.
Apple’s second legal filing responds to that revised demand. The company has stated publicly that it has never built a backdoor into any of its products and will not build one.
Why the Legal Fight Matters to iCloud Users
Advanced Data Protection covers iCloud backups, Photos, Notes, and more than a dozen other data categories.
Without it, Apple holds encryption keys on its servers, meaning it can hand data to governments when served with a legal order. With it enabled, Apple has nothing to hand over.
British users lost the option to activate that layer of protection when Apple withdrew it in February 2025. Restoring access depends on Apple winning, or settling, its tribunal cases.
The UK government has not publicly confirmed the order exists. Apple has not commented directly on the Financial Times report. The Investigatory Powers Tribunal is expected to continue hearing arguments as the case proceeds.
