Politics

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Apple removal of advanced data protection

ended 24. February 2025

In a global first, Apple is removing its Advanced Data Protection security tool from UK users, a move cyber security experts have said is an attack on individual privacy and could set a dangerous precedent and trigger a domino effect across other (especially authoritarian) countries. In a statement, Apple said it is “gravely disappointed that the protections provided by ADP will not be available to our customers in the UK given the continuing rise of data breaches and other threats to customer privacy”. You can read all about it >> here <<. Any thoughts, send them across and we'll issue to journalists covering the story today.

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Keith Budden
Managing Director at Ensurety
This decision presents the opportunity for major data breaches of data held by Apple. In time, this could naturally lead to a reduction in confidence in Apple products for UK customers, and ultimately a reduction in Apple sales in the UK.

While it feels that Apple may have been caught in a double bluff here, I can't see the UK Government intervening to stop them. With the benefit of hindsight, Apple must no doubt be wishing they had granted the UK Government back door access instead (I would suggest with the requirement for a court judgement as doorkeeper).

It will be interesting to see how this evolves over time. The danger to UK corporates and consumers must be that other applications like WhatsApp decide to follow suit.