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iPhone without iMessage and FaceTime? UK law change could make it a reality
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Apple has threatened to pull the iMessage and FaceTime apps from the UK, if the government passes a new law that could damage user privacy.
TheiPhonemaker has been avocal opponent of the proposed Online Safety Bill, which would require tech companies to use services that will scan messaging apps for child abuse imagery – completely undermining end-to-end encryption in the process.
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Now Apple has gone a step further with a vow to pull its services completely from UK users, rather than compromise its stance on privacy. Apple said it would be unprepared to build a back door into its apps in order to comply with the new law it, and other companies likeWhatsApp and Signal, believe to be massive overreach.
Apple said the proposed law change would “make the Home Office the de facto global arbiter of what level of data security and encryption are permissible”
The company added (viaThe Guardian): “Together, these provisions could be used to force a company like Apple, that would never build a backdoor, to publicly withdraw critical security features from the UK market, depriving UK users of these protections.”
It would also “result in an impossible choice between complying with a Home Office mandate to secretly install vulnerabilities into new security technologies (which Apple would never do), or to forgo development of those technologies altogether and sit on the sidelines as threats to users’ data security continue to grow.”
The government said the tweaked laws – a revision of the Investigatory Powers Act (2016) – are designed to give it more scope to respond to the challenges presented by evolving technology.
There is apublic consultation, which lasts until July 31.
In a statement (viaTech Crunch), the Home Office said: “The first job of government is to keep the country safe and investigatory powers are an essential tool for protecting our citizens.
“The Investigatory Powers Act 2016 is designed to protect the public from criminals, child sex abusers and terrorists. With strong independent oversight, the Act regulates how intrusive investigatory powers by public authorities are used. We keep all legislation under review to ensure it is as strong as it can be and this consultation is part of that process — no decisions have yet been made.”
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Chris Smith is a freelance technology journalist for a host of UK tech publications, including Trusted Reviews. He’s based in South Florida, USA. …
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Why trust our journalism?
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
