Tech Industry: US Should Defend Encryption Against UK Probing
The U.S. government should defend tech industry interests against the UK’s attempt to access end-to-end encrypted data on Apple iCloud, tech associations wrote Thursday in a letter to the Trump administration.
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Software & Information Industry Association, ACT | The App Association, Computer & Communications Industry Association, Consumer Technology Association and TechNet wrote the letter to heads of DOJ, Commerce Department, Homeland Security Department, Office of the Director of National Intelligence and Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
“We write to express concern about the United Kingdom’s reported use of the Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) to demand access to users’ end-to-end encrypted material held in the Apple iCloud.”
They noted the UK government’s request would reportedly have “extraterritorial reach and require Apple to modify its iCloud system to create a backdoor for iCloud users worldwide.” The impact of this would “extend far beyond Apple, as the IPA gives the UK government power (under UK law) to seek not only personal communications, but also corporate communications held by any company that does business in the UK. We believe this move is both ill-advised and dangerous.”
The associations requested meetings with agency leadership. DOJ didn’t comment Thursday.