this post was submitted on 21 Jul 2025
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The funny thing is, advanced data protection was optional, and not on by default. Apple just stopped offering it in the UK
https://support.apple.com/en-us/108756
When it’s enabled, they can’t access iCloud data at all, even with a warrant due to the fact it’s E2E with keys they don’t control. That’s what the UK got really mad about. But Apple shut the whole feature down for the UK in response to the backdoor ask.
It’s not different from the UK banning signal because it’s E2E encrypted and they can’t access it.
They’re likely only backing down now because of consumer/media backlash
Apple would need to supply the data if they had the encryption key right? So can we assume that even Apple cannot see the encrypted data?
Correct, standard iCloud data is accessible with a warrant. But the UK wanted their own backdoor so they have constant access without a warrant.
But with advanced data protection, Apple can’t provide the data because they don’t have the encryption keys, regardless of a warrant.
Important to note iMessage is always E2E encrypted though, so iMessages cannot be accessed even with a warrant. Advanced data protection just expands that to all iCloud data
Okay interesting, thank you for the info.
Who even uses iMessage these days? Pretty sure I turned it off completely because it was messing with the 5 SMS I send in a year ...
iMessage is far more common in the US afaik. Whereas most people elsewhere will use WhatsApp or whatever, nobody in my extended family uses anything but iMessage to communicate
Ah, yeah right, the US is still stuck in the 00s with that (and payment methods).
But iMessage doesn't work on Android and by default the message will just fail if they have an Android phone and you use iMessage.
That is interesting. In Europe it just switches to text message automatically when sending to people with android.
In The Netherlands it doesn't and last time I checked we are still part of Europe lol