On Friday, Apple announced an unprecedented decision to discontinue its most advanced end-to-end encryption feature for cloud data in the UK. This move follows reports that the UK government had demanded access to user data.

The feature, known as Advanced Data Protection, which provides end-to-end encryption to a broad range of user data, will no longer be available to new users in the UK. Existing users will eventually need to disable it. For years, governments and tech companies have clashed over encryption, with security officials arguing that it hampers criminal investigations, while tech firms insist it is essential for user privacy.

Without end-to-end encryption for iCloud backups, Apple would be able to access user data such as iMessages under certain circumstances and share it with authorities if legally required. In contrast, end-to-end encryption means Apple cannot access the data under any conditions.

Apple clarified that data encrypted before the introduction of the protection service in December 2022, including health data, passwords, and iMessage and FaceTime messaging services, will remain encrypted.

Law enforcement agencies have often targeted these services through iCloud backups, which were not end-to-end encrypted before Advanced Data Protection was introduced. Consequently, these backups, which may contain photos and other sensitive information and are widely used, will no longer be end-to-end encrypted for UK users.

Since Apple does not hold the encryption keys of existing users of its data protection service in the UK, it will not be able to disable the feature for those users. Instead, it will offer them the option to disable it themselves.

A spokesperson for the UK's Home Office declined to comment on whether such an order had been issued, stating, "We do not comment on operational matters, including confirming or denying the existence of any such notices."

Apple expressed its disappointment that the protections provided by ADP would not be available to its UK customers, citing the growing number of data breaches and other threats to customer privacy. Despite the news, Apple shares remained largely unchanged on Friday morning.

Apple has a history of resisting government efforts to weaken encryption, such as in 2016 when US authorities tried to compel it to unlock the iPhone of a San Bernardino shooter. The company reiterated that it would "never build a backdoor into its technology."

Other tech firms have also faced challenges with global encryption laws. Messaging platform Signal has previously threatened to leave the UK over similar concerns, while Meta Platforms has encountered opposition to its plans to expand encryption on WhatsApp.