Apple’s Moment of Truth on Encryption: A Purity Test for Its Commitment to Privacy

I recently listened to an excellent and passionate conversation on the latest episode of MacBreak Weekly, and it aligns with a recent op-ed I read in The Wall Street Journal on the UK’s demand for an iCloud backdoor. Both lay out the stakes in what could be Apple’s biggest privacy test yet.

For years, Apple has built its brand around privacy, assuring users that their data is secure and inaccessible—even to Apple itself. Now, the UK government is demanding a backdoor into iCloud encryption, granting them access to user data worldwide.

If Apple complies, it won’t just affect UK users—it will set a global precedent for government access to private data. If they refuse, they may have to shut down iCloud services in the UK altogether.

This isn’t just about Apple—it’s about the future of encryption, government control over tech companies, and whether any of us can truly trust cloud storage.

As MacBreak Weekly host Andy Ihnatko put it, "This is Apple’s purity test. Do they actually believe in privacy, or is this just a marketing thing?"

And if Apple fails this test, what happens next?

A Permanent Backdoor for Government Access

The UK’s demand comes under the Investigatory Powers Act—often called the "Snooper’s Charter"—which gives the British government the power to force tech companies to weaken encryption. This is not about unlocking a single suspect’s phone, but creating a permanent vulnerability that governments can use at will.

Andy Ihnatko put it plainly:

“It’s not like the San Bernardino case where the FBI went to Apple and said, ‘Hi, we need you to get us into this one phone.’ This one is, ‘We want to have the ongoing ability to simply, anytime we want, get into somebody’s secure iCloud backup… without even having to go through you.’”

This order doesn’t just affect Apple—it threatens to destroy the entire foundation of end-to-end encryption.

In a Wall Street Journal Op-Ed along with Alex Stamos, Matthew Green, a cryptographer at Johns Hopkins, warned:

“The strength of end-to-end encryption comes from the idea that security is based on math, not politics.”

Mr. Green is a cryptographer and professor of computer science at Johns Hopkins. Mr. Stamos is chief information security officer of SentinelOne and a lecturer in computer science at Stanford.

This Won’t Stop With the UK

A backdoor built for the UK won’t stay in the UK. Other governments will demand the same access, including ones that routinely violate human rights. China, which is Apple’s largest manufacturing base and a huge market, would be next in line.

Alex Stamos, cybersecurity expert and lecturer at Stanford, put it bluntly:

“If the British crack the encryption door an inch, the Chinese will kick it open.”

This isn’t hypothetical—China already requires Apple to store Chinese users’ iCloud data on government-controlled servers. If Apple creates a backdoor for the UK, China, Russia, and others will insist on the same treatment.

Leo Laporte highlighted the global implications:

“The only solution at this point is for the United States Congress to pass a law forbidding it, because when you have opposing laws from two different countries, ours would trump, if you will, the UK law.”

If the U.S. doesn’t act quickly, other nations will dictate Apple’s security policies—and that affects everyone.

The FBI Has Switched Sides—That Says a Lot

Ironically, even the FBI, which has long advocated for encryption backdoors, has changed its stance. After watching Russian and Chinese hackers attack U.S. businesses and government agencies, the FBI now recommends that Americans use end-to-end encrypted messaging apps to protect themselves.

Green and Stamos pointed out:

“Hackers from Russia continue to run roughshod over businesses, demanding millions of dollars in ransom… The Chinese Ministry of State Security successfully hacked most major U.S. telecom providers and the U.S. Treasury.”

Weakening encryption hurts criminals and makes everyone, including businesses, journalists, and government officials, more vulnerable to cyberattacks.

Advanced Data Protection Is Your Best Bet—for Now

Right now, Apple’s Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature fully encrypts iCloud backups so even Apple can’t access them. If the UK law is enforced, turning on ADP might be the only way to keep your data private.

But as Leo Laporte pointed out:

“Honestly, I would guess that most of you don't use Advanced Data Protection on your iPhones. Do any of you? No, because it is a pain in the ass, right?”

Most users avoid it because it complicates password recovery and device syncing. But if Apple is forced to weaken iCloud encryption, the best way to protect your data might be disabling iCloud backups entirely.

Sideloading and App Store Control Could Be Next

If Apple gives in on encryption, it opens the floodgates for even more government control. The UK, China, and other nations could force Apple to block encrypted messaging apps or ban sideloading to prevent people from installing privacy-focused alternatives.

Andy Ihnatko explained why sideloading apps might become the only way to access secure messaging in the future:

“If any sort of encryption is illegal, the only way to get around it would be to sideload an app that can't be choked off from the Apple App Store.”

Apple has always resisted sideloading, arguing that it could introduce security risks. But if Apple itself becomes a government-mandated surveillance tool, sideloading might become the only path to true privacy.

A Backdoor for the UK Is a Backdoor for Everyone

There’s a reason Apple, Google, Signal, and WhatsApp have all refused to build encryption backdoors—they know that once a backdoor exists, it will be abused.

Jason Snell warned:

“There’s no such thing as a safe backdoor. If there is a key and Apple has it, because Apple needs to have it, that means that anybody who has access at Apple could get that key, and it could spread from there.”

Encryption protects everyone, from whistleblowers and journalists to government officials and everyday users. Weakening it makes us all less safe.

Final Thoughts: Apple Needs to Hold the Line

Apple has spent years marketing itself as a privacy-first company. This is their moment of truth. If they comply with the UK’s demand, they’ll permanently lose their credibility on privacy. If they refuse, they might have to shut down iCloud services in the UK.

If Apple gives in, the era of true end-to-end encryption could be over. If they stand firm, they’ll set a precedent for resisting government overreach.

What Can You Do?

• Turn on Advanced Data Protection to encrypt your iCloud backups.
• Stay informed—governments don’t stop with one win.
• Support strong encryption by using privacy-focused apps and services.

Because once encryption is weakened, there’s no undoing it.