Apple has officially opposed a planned bill endorsed by the United Kingdom’s government that would effectively ban end-to-end encryption (E2EE) on messaging services, including iMessage, WhatsApp, and others. The company voiced its concerns regarding the controversial law in a new statement issued to the BBC.
The controversial Online Safety Bill aims to make it easier for law enforcement agencies in the UK to scan messages for illicit child abuse material, among other loosely-defined “inappropriate” content as deemed by Ofcom, the country’s regulatory authority for broadcasting and telecommunications.
End-to-end encryption is a critical capability that protects the privacy of journalists, human rights activists, and diplomats. It also helps everyday citizens defend themselves from surveillance, identity theft, fraud, and data breaches. The Online Safety Bill poses a serious threat to this protection, and could put UK citizens at greater risk. Apple urges the government to amend the bill to protect strong end-to-end encryption for the benefit of all.
Discover new horizons, always connected with eSIM
Travel the world stress and hassle-free with the best eSIM service available. Enjoy unlimited data, 5G speeds, and global coverage for affordable prices with Holafly. And, enjoy an exclusive 5% discount.
5% OffExplore Now
Apple statement to the BBC
The law is currently making its way through the UK Parliament and would be one of the largest reductions in the privacy and security of messaging platforms on record. Other notable apps, including WhatsApp, have said they would refuse to weaken their encryptions. Signal said in February it would leave the UK market entirely if the law passes.
The BBC adds that the government is expected to induce changes to the bill that could appease its opponents, making them less resistant to the planned law. The expected amendments could be revealed “in the coming days,” adds the publication, but they may not be enough to win over critics.
Apple on-device scanning controversy
Some elements of the Online Safety Bill are eerily similar to a now-abandoned feature from Apple that would have seen photos backed up to iCloud scanned on-device for Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). Apple announced the controversial feature in August of 2021, before ultimately canceling its rollout in December 2022 after severe backlash from privacy advocates.
Per the bill and similar to Apple’s on-device scanning, Ofcom would have the power to preemptively scan messages for inappropriate content before sending them from one user to another, in what is known as client-side scanning.
