In a striking development for iPhone and iPad users across the United Kingdom, Apple has declared that its Advanced Data Protection feature for iCloud will no longer be available to new users in the region. The decision follows intense pressure from the UK government, which reportedly sought access to encrypted user data. Existing UK users will soon need to disable the feature to keep using iCloud, marking a sharp turn in the tech giant’s privacy stance for British customers.
Advanced Data Protection, launched in 2022, allowed users to shield their iCloud data—like photos, notes, and backups—with end-to-end encryption. This meant only the user, on their trusted devices, could unlock the information, locking out even Apple itself. The company framed it as a gold standard for privacy, a shield against hackers and overreaching authorities alike. But now, that shield is being dismantled in the UK, leaving many to wonder about the safety of their personal files stored in the cloud.
The move stems from a clash with UK officials, who have long argued that strong encryption hampers investigations into serious crimes like terrorism and child exploitation. Under the Investigatory Powers Act of 2016—often dubbed the “Snoopers’ Charter” by critics—the government can issue secret orders to tech firms, demanding access to user data. Reports suggest the Home Office hit Apple with such a “technical capability notice” late last year, pushing for a way into iCloud’s encrypted vaults. Rather than build a backdoor that could compromise security worldwide, Apple chose to pull the feature entirely for UK users.
“We are gravely disappointed that the protections provided by Advanced Data Protection will not be available to our customers in the UK, given the continuing rise of data breaches and other threats to customer privacy,” Apple said in a statement. The company stressed that bolstering cloud security is more urgent than ever, hinting at frustration with the government’s stance. While iMessage and FaceTime remain encrypted globally, including in the UK, iCloud data like backups and photos will now rely on standard protection—meaning Apple holds the keys and could hand them over if pressed by authorities.
Privacy advocates are sounding the alarm. Cybersecurity experts warn that ditching end-to-end encryption leaves UK users more exposed to hackers, not just government snooping. “Weakening encryption doesn’t just open the door for law enforcement—it’s an invitation to bad actors too,” said Dray Agha, a senior manager at Huntress, a cybersecurity firm. He called the move a “dangerous precedent” that could ripple beyond Britain’s borders, nudging other nations to demand similar concessions from tech companies.
For everyday users, the change hits hard. iCloud is a lifeline for millions, storing everything from family snapshots to sensitive documents. Without Advanced Data Protection, that data now sits in a less fortified vault. Apple insists it won’t cave to demands for a universal backdoor, a stance it’s held firm on since clashing with the FBI in 2016 over an iPhone unlock order. But for UK customers, the price of that principle is a downgrade in privacy—a bitter pill as digital threats loom larger than ever.
