Apple users in the UK can no longer access one of the company's most advanced data protection tools, reports Bloomberg. The feature, Advanced Data Protection, allows iPhone users to add optional end-to-end encryption to a variety of iCloud data. The move comes amid an ongoing dispute between Apple and the UK over a government order that would require the company to build a backdoor to allow British security officials to access the encrypted data of users globally.
Apple did not immediately respond to Engadget's comment request.
"We are 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," the company said in a statement it shared with Bloomberg. "ADP protects iCloud data with end-to-end encryption, which means the data can only be decrypted by the user who owns it, and only on their trusted devices.
"Apple can no longer offer Advanced Data Protection (ADP) in the United Kingdom to new users," a notification explains when users go to enable the feature on their iPhone, iPad or Mac following Apple's decision. If you live in the UK and have ADP enabled, you will need to manually disable the encryption to keep your iCloud account. Apple told Bloomberg it will provide customers with a grace period to comply, though the company has yet to say how much time it will give. The company added it would provide additional guidance in the future. Due to the nature of end-to-end encryption, Apple does not have the ability to automatically disable ADP on the behalf of its users.
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