Apple files second lawsuit against UK over iCloud backdoor order

Apple has filed a second legal challenge against the UK government over an order requiring the company to provide access to encrypted iCloud backups, according to 9to5Mac.

The iPhone maker filed a new complaint with the UK's Investigatory Powers Tribunal in July, challenging an order that would require it to give authorities access to encrypted cloud backups belonging to users.

The dispute dates back to early 2025, when the UK government secretly ordered Apple to provide access to data protected by Advanced Data Protection worldwide.

Because Apple does not hold the encryption keys needed to access this data, complying with the order would require weakening the security system itself. In response, Apple stopped allowing new users in the UK to enable Advanced Data Protection and launched a legal challenge.

Apple has maintained that it has never created — and will not create — a master key or backdoor that would allow encrypted user data to be accessed. Following pressure from the US, the UK government dropped its global demand but issued a new order focused specifically on users in Britain. Apple is now challenging that order as well.