Hello,

The UK government’s attempt to break Apple’s iCloud encryption is facing serious backlash.

First, Apple filed a legal challenge against the order.1

Then, the U.S. administration, despite its own extensive surveillance practices, intensified pressure as intelligence officials expressed “grave concerns” over the UK’s demand.2 In response, the administration launched an investigation into whether the UK's encryption backdoor mandate violates the Cloud Act — a bilateral agreement between the U.S. and UK that prevents either government from demanding data belonging to residents of the other country.3

And now, just in the past few days, the UK government has been publicly exposed for quietly scrubbing encryption advice from government web pages.4

Momentum is on our side — together, let’s keep building public pressure to make sure the UK government backs down. Will you add your name and join the growing movement demanding an end to this dangerous attack on encryption?

For more information about this campaign and what the Mozilla community is calling for, take a look at the email sent recently, which is copied below. ⬇️

Thank you for everything you do for the internet.

Claire Pershan
Advocacy Lead, EU
Mozilla

More Information:

1. TechCrunch: Apple challenges UK’s iCloud encryption backdoor order. 5 March 2025.

2. The Guardian: US national security director condemns UK request for Apple data “backdoor.” 26 February 2025.

3. Forbes: Trump slams UK’s attack on iPhone security: “You can’t do this.” 28 February 2025.

4. TechCrunch: UK quietly scrubs encryption advice from government websites. 6 March 2025.

Don’t Let the UK Break Apple’s iCloud Encryption

Once encryption is broken, it can’t be undone. Sign our petition to stop this dangerous move.

Hello,

The UK government has secretly ordered Apple to give it access to encrypted personal data stored in iCloud, jeopardizing the privacy and security of millions worldwide.1

This demand, issued under the UK’s Investigatory Powers Act (dubbed the “Snoopers’ Charter” by rights groups), would force Apple to create a backdoor — giving the government the ability to access anyone’s encrypted data. It's inevitable that other governments will follow the UK’s example.

This sets a dangerous precedent: If one government can force a company to undermine encryption, then private iCloud data is at risk around the world. Your personal messages, photos, and sensitive information could be shared — and that’s not just for people in the UK, but for everyone else too. In response, Apple has already halted encrypted iCloud services for people in the UK, making everyone less secure online.2

Mozilla is calling on the UK’s Home Office (the department responsible for the country’s interior affairs) to urgently drop its attack on encryption, before it’s too late. Add your name to join Mozilla in demanding the UK government abandon its push to break Apple’s iCloud encryption.

End-to-end encryption keeps our personal data — like photos, messages, and notes — safe from hackers, surveillance, and misuse. Encryption transforms data into a coded format, ensuring that only trusted devices can access and understand it.

When Apple’s iCloud data is encrypted, all stored files, photos, and backups are converted into unreadable code, accessible only with a unique key. This ensures that the user’s personal data remains private and secure. Strong encryption is essential for protecting privacy and security. Weakening it creates vulnerabilities that bad actors can exploit, putting our data — and even our safety — at risk.

If we don’t act now, this won’t stop with the UK — other governments may follow the UK’s lead. Apple has already pulled encrypted iCloud services in the UK, setting a dangerous precedent. Once encryption is weakened, there’s no going back. This risks leaving everyone’s Apple iCloud data exposed — and if you’re an Apple user, that includes you.

That’s why governments must prioritize strengthening user security by upholding the best encryption practices — not undermining them with demands to break encryption because they want blanket powers to be able to spy on users.

We must act now before it’s too late. Encryption is one of the last safeguards of our digital privacy — once compromised, it’s impossible to restore. Stand with us in defending this fundamental protection.

Sign Mozilla’s petition today and tell the UK Home Office to reverse its demand to access anyone’s Apple encrypted iCloud data.

Thank you for everything you do for the internet and to protect online privacy.

Claire Pershan
Advocacy Lead, EU
Mozilla

More Information:

1. The Washington Post: U.K. orders Apple to let it spy on users' encrypted accounts. 7 February 2025.

2. BBC: Apple pulls data protection tool after UK government security row. 22 February 2025.