Apple has pushed back against a secret UK government order demanding access to encrypted iCloud files by filing an appeal with the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, which handles complaints regarding alleged unlawful surveillance by UK intelligence agencies and authorities, according to a report from the Financial Times.
The tribunal will assess whether the UK’s directive to Apple was legally justified and could potentially overturn it. A hearing may take place as soon as this month.
Apple previously stopped offering its Advanced Data Protection feature in the UK in response to the order and is now seeking to challenge it entirely. The company has not yet commented on the case.
The UK government issued the directive in January under the Investigatory Powers Act of 2016, as reported by The Washington Post. The order specifically targets Apple’s Advanced Data Protection feature, which uses end-to-end encryption to secure iCloud backups, preventing even Apple from accessing user data.
