Members of the US Congress, from both sides of the political spectrum, are lobbying newly installed National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard demand that the United Kingdom retract its order. The order, which was recently revealed, compels Apple to handover access to any encrypted iCloud data regardless of its location, the owner’s location or their citizenship.
While individual governments have the authority to make laws governing their land and citizens, the UK’s order, a “technical capability notice” that authorises law enforcement to compel assistance from companies when needed to collect evidence, has a global reach that impacts Australian citizens as well as about a billion people across the world. Apple can appeal the notice but UK law dictates that they can’t delay compliance pending the appeal.
An article in The Washington Post [paywalled] says Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden, and Arizona Republican Andy Biggs, have askedNational Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard to demand that the United Kingdom retract its order. Further, they say that if the UK does not rescind the order that Gabbard should look at pulling back on the intelligence sharing and cooperation between the countries.
Australia is part of that intelligence sharing group, the Five Eyes, along with Canada and New Zealand.
Many countries have escalated their laws pertaining to access of encrypted data and communications. But this move from the UK is a significant leap as it extends far beyond the UK’s national and citizen borders.
There’s no news from the Australian government and whether it will push back against this order.
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.