Two-Tier Encryption in the UK – Identical Apple Devices, Different Protection

Two UK users, Alice and Bill, own identical iPhones and use iCloud, but only Alice has Advanced Data Protection enabled, a feature Apple withdrew for new UK customers in February 2025. The UK government issued a Technical Capability Notice under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, obliging Apple to maintain the ability to provide access to data protected by the strongest iCloud encryption. The notice requires judicial approval and keeps Apple’s compliance details confidential.