Apple’s UK encryption legal challenge heard behind closed doors | Apple | The Guardian
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Apple’s UK encryption legal challenge heard behind closed doors
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Media organisations including the Guardian and the BBC fail to gain entry to proceedings

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 Global technology editor

Fri 14 Mar 2025 14.49 EDT Last modified on Fri 14 Mar 2025 15.12 EDT





A hearing in Apple’s legal battle with the UK government over access to customer data was held behind closed doors on Friday after the press failed to gain entry to proceedings.

The US tech firm has launched an appeal with the investigatory powers tribunal after the  demanded access to encrypted data stored remotely in Apple’s cloud servers.

Apple refused and has challenged the order at the tribunal, which investigates whether the domestic intelligence services have acted unlawfully. It , saying: “We have never built a backdoor or master key to any of our products or services and we never will.”

ADP uses end-to-end encryption, which means only the account holder can decrypt the files. Messaging services such as iMessage and FaceTime remain end-to-end encrypted by default.

The government’s secret legal demand is officially known as a technical capability notice. Recipients of a TCN cannot reveal the existence of an order unless they are given permission from the home secretary. The tribunal’s website states that hearings should be closed to the public only when “strictly necessary”, but its  declare there must be no disclosure of information that is “prejudicial to national security”.

On Thursday, a group of Democratic and Republican lawmakers in the US  to “remove the cloak of secrecy” around the UK government’s order and to make Friday’s hearing, as well as any further proceedings, public.

Bloomberg reported on Thursday that British officials had initiated talks with their US counterparts over the order. The UK has reportedly assured the US that it is not seeking blanket access and would only seek data related to serious crimes such as terrorism and child sexual abuse.

The Home Office has been asked for comment.

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