Forced to make the iCloud back door: U.S. examine whether Great Britain breaks contracts

In the conflict between Apple and the British government for the installation of a back door in iCloud that would affect users around the world, the Trump administration in Washington has now also switched on. Tulsi Gabard, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and thus a guardian through the US secret services, has her lawyers checked whether London's procedure could be directed against existing agreements between the United States and Great Britain. One according to first review the demand of the British, which was pronounced in the context of the controversial sniffing law Investigatory Powers Act (IPA), possibly against the so -called cloud act agreement. It states that the United Kingdom may not request any data from US citizens or legally living persons (“US person”).

Advertisement

Lonely British without encryption

At the beginning of February, Apple received the secret instruction according to the IPA to provide encrypted data in the iCloud to British authorities – and not just that of British citizens. To do this, the group would have to provide its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) with a backdoor. The extended data protection, which Apple user can optionally switch on, ensures that Apple itself cannot get this information. That could only be done with a kind of “own hack”, ie a back door. This categorically rejects Apple – just like the IPA itself – and reacted with an unusually harsh measure: Great Britain is now the only country in which ADP can no longer be activated, existing activations are switched off. ADP is even active in China, as Apple confirmed when asked by Mac & I.

With her hint that she is currently analyzing the case, Gabard answered that she was asked by the Democratic US senator Ron Wyden, who, together with his colleague from Arizona, the US MP Andy Biggs. There had already been criticism of London's approach by US politicians and NGOs. In the letter to Gabbard it was said that the British planned a “foreign cyber attack that is carried out by political means”. The politicians asked to put agreements with Great Britain to the test in the field of cyber security.

Access to material from abroad

“After a first review of the bilateral cloud act agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom, the United Kingdom may not request any data from US citizens, nationals or people with constant residence in the USA-and it is also not entitled to request data from people who are in the USA,” said Gabbard's precise answer. It remains to be seen what the consequences will have.

Apple himself was silent about the incident – probably also because according to the IPA, it must not officially comment. Finally, the group decided to completely disconnect ADP in the country. “We are deeply disappointed that the protection by ADP will no longer be available to our customers: in the Great Britain, especially against the background of steadily growing data protection injuries and other threats to the privacy of users: Inside.