According to a recent post on Reuters, Apple dropped plans to allow users to fully encrypt data on its iCloud services after the FBI warned such a move would hamper investigations. Quoting six sources familiar with the issue, the Reuters report highlights the extent to which Apple is willing to aid the US law enforcement agencies, despite facing the flak of the government in high-profile legal disputes in the recent past.
Apple’s compliance with the FBI’s demand surfaces two years after the talks formally commenced. Data encryption would have made it impossible for Apple to access user information stored on its iCloud servers even if law enforcement agencies sent a legal request. This is when the FBI sent in a stern warning saying such a step would negatively affect the organization’s ability to gather proof in cases where the perpetrator used an iPhone.
Around two years back, in an effort to block hackers, Apple informed the FBI about its plans to offer users end-to-end encryption when storing iPhone data on iCloud. As part of the plan, the company would no longer have the ability to access user data even under court order. Representatives of the FBI’s cybercrime wing soon objected to the plan arguing that it would open up a whole new level of difficulties gathering proof against suspects using an iPhone.
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Apple dropped the effort soon after, along with the 10 key people involved in developing advanced encryption technology, codenamed Plesio and KeyDrop, a year later. A former Apple employee anonymously claimed, “The effort was dropped due to mounting legal pressures for reasons you can imagine”. However, it is unclear what role the FBI played in the matter.
The news will not go down well with Apple users, as the reversal clearly contradicts the company’s policy of preserving user data. However, it is easy to understand why Apple would not like to poke the bear, read US government, any longer following the long legal battle against law enforcement agencies back in 2016.
There is a silver lining to this, as pointed out by cybersecurity and privacy attorney Leeza Garber. “This decision does not hurt user information directly, as customers can still monitor what data gets uploaded to iCloud”. Physical data stored on the iPhone cannot be accessed remotely. Hence, users need to be more careful about what information they want to be stored on the cloud.
“While major corporations like Apple and Google are doing their best to preserve user data. This is a great opportunity for users to consider what we choose to store online. In the end, we need to take greater responsibility for our actions and decisions. Understanding privacy settings, backup choices, and digital security measures is a priority. We need to consider alternative backup options. While iCloud is easy to access, it has its fair share of flaws. Users could effectively use a 3TB hard drive stored in a safe for privacy” Garber adds.
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