Apple Stands Firm: iMessage and FaceTime to be Removed in the UK to Protect Encryption

The UK government is currently reviewing proposed legislation that would require messaging services to incorporate backdoors into end-to-end encryption. Apple has firmly opposed this proposal, warning that it may be forced to disable iMessage and FaceTime in the UK market entirely.

Apple and other tech companies argue that backdoors would fundamentally undermine encryption security for all users, even if intended for a limited purpose. They insist that once a backdoor is created, it is inevitable that governments or hackers will exploit it.

The UK government wants the ability to scan encrypted messaging services for illegal content like child abuse material. It argues this ability is necessary to protect children and catch criminals. However, Apple stresses that making changes for one country would weaken security for all of its users worldwide.

As an alternative to backdoors, Apple has proposed more privacy-preserving approaches to scanning for illegal content. However, the UK government’s current proposal does not incorporate these recommendations.

The proposed legislation is currently undergoing review and revisions in response to criticism from Apple, WhatsApp, and others. The final version may offer compromises to avoid requiring encryption backdoors that tech companies see as too damaging to security and privacy. But for now, Apple’s threat to pull services from the UK market shows how strongly it opposes the government’s current proposal.

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