Apple’s call against a request from the British government to be able to access the most encrypted data of its customers should be considered during a secret hearing at the High Court on Friday, the BBC includes.
It must be taken into account by the court of investigation powers – an independent court which has the power to investigate complaints against the British intelligence services.
The American technology giant brought legal action earlier this month in response to the request of the Home Office for the right to access information from customer protected by the Advanced Protection of Apple (ADP) program.
Currently, Apple cannot access the data stored in this way and is therefore unable to share it with the police if it is issued from a mandate.
The government says that it must be able to see it if there is a risk of national security.
The American technology giant brought legal action earlier this month in response to the request of the Home Office for the right to access information from customer protected by the Advanced Protection of Apple (ADP) program.
Apple refused to comment. The Ministry of the Interior and the Court were approached by the BBC.
The hearing should be kept private because it concerns the security services, but activists say that the public has the right to hear it.
“This audience should not be held in secret,” Caroline Wilson Palow, Legal Director of Privacy International at the BBC, told.
“The public has the right to know if the security of a service that could be used by millions or perhaps billions of people around the world is undermined.”
The row began in February during its first emergence, the government was looking for the right to access the data protected by the ADP, using the powers granted to it under the law on investigation powers.
The law allows it to secretly oblige companies to provide information to law enforcement organizations.
ADP allows users of iCloud and storage accounts to secure photos, notes, vocal memos and other data with end -to -end encryption, which means nobody, but the user – not even Apple – can access it.
Going around which would imply the creation of a so -called “stolen” – an ability that certain actors of bad players could ultimately exploit.
At the time, Apple reiterated its long -standing commitment not to weaken the privacy or security of its systems.
“As we have said several times before, we have never built a stolen door or master of our products, and we will never do it,” a spokesman for the BBC told.
Later in February, the line intensified, while Apple announced that it was pulling ADP in the United Kingdom.
Shortly after, the BBC learned that Apple took legal action by appealing to the investigation powers to try to overthrow the government’s request.
Friday afternoon, on its website, the court lists an audience before its president Lord Rabinder Singh.
The list makes no mention of Apple or the government, and the court has not confirmed either if they are the parties involved, but a source familiar with the case indicated that this is the case.
In the statement he published in February, Apple said he regretted the action he had considered that she had been forced to take.
“Improving cloud storage safety with end-to-end encryption is more urgent than ever,” he said.
“Apple remains determined to offer our users the highest level of security for their personal data and hope that we can do it in the future in the United Kingdom.”
In a previous statement, a spokesperson for the Home Office said: “The United Kingdom has a long-standing position to protect our citizens from the worst crimes, such as sexual abuses and terrorism of children, at the same time as the protection of people’s privacy.
“The United Kingdom has robust guarantees and independent surveillance to protect privacy and privacy is only affected on an exceptional basis, compared to the most serious crimes and only when it is necessary and proportionate to do so.”
