The U.K. government’s attempt to force Apple to weaken iCloud encryption has sparked strong opposition from President Donald Trump, who compared the demand to surveillance tactics used by the Chinese Communist Party. British officials, citing national security concerns, attempted to mandate a backdoor into Apple’s encrypted cloud system, but the company refused and instead removed its Advanced Data Protection feature for U.K. users.
During a meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Trump made his stance clear. He reportedly told the British leader, “You can’t do this,” and later remarked that such demands were something one would expect from China. The U.K.’s request was made under its Investigatory Powers Act, which allows authorities to secretly require companies to bypass encryption for government access.
https://t.co/vs1oTCO0il
UK is demanding Apple put a back door in iCloud so they can spy on ppl, our NATO allies R NO different than China who controls more of the world than the USSR ever dreamed of— Pete Cooley (@liveinreality20) March 1, 2025
Apple’s refusal to comply underscores the growing battle between tech firms and governments over digital privacy. Encryption advocates argue that creating a backdoor for one government could set a dangerous precedent, allowing authoritarian regimes to demand similar access. The U.K. law prohibits companies from publicly discussing government orders, making it even more controversial among privacy rights supporters.
Donald Trump is calling out the UK government for allegedly removing security elements on Apple devices, drawing parallels with China's practices. This controversy might be related to the UK's reported demand for an iCloud backdoor, which led Apple to withdraw its Advanced Data…
— Raggy 🐉 (@Raggy_521) March 1, 2025
Concerns over the U.K.’s expanding surveillance powers have also reached the U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard called the move an “egregious violation” of privacy and stated that legal teams were investigating its potential impact on Americans. Critics fear that if the U.K. is allowed to force Apple to weaken its security, other nations could follow.
Trump weighs in on the UK's iCloud backdoor request, telling PM Starmer that this is a slippery slope that sounds more like something you'd hear from China. Is privacy at risk or is it just political theater? Dive into the details here: https://t.co/IGRE9ahxtn
— Munshipremchand (@MunshiPremChnd) February 28, 2025
Meanwhile, British authorities have increased prosecutions for online speech, including arrests of individuals who supported anti-mass migration demonstrations. Others have faced charges simply for silently praying outside abortion clinics, raising alarms over the government’s broad interpretation of policing powers.
Hackers and criminals will be better at stealing our information than the government – they will get it first, IMO. Then China will get it.
And @MarioNawfal this won't just be the UK – once the door is opened every iCloud account will be open including the USA . @DataRepublican
— Philosophy Doc🦐, Civil Liberties (@Philosophy_the) February 22, 2025
Trade discussions were also on the agenda during Trump’s meeting with Starmer. The U.K. is seeking assurances that it will avoid U.S. tariffs as Washington reassesses its economic policies.
