Apple has formally contested a fresh demand by the U.K. government seeking access to encrypted iCloud user data within the country. The company submitted an appeal to the U.K.’s Investigatory Powers Tribunal, the body that adjudicates cases involving government surveillance requests. This challenge follows a “technical capability notice” issued last year, a covert legal order that demands access to data even when it is protected by end-to-end encryption.

Critics argue the government’s demand essentially requests Apple to create a backdoor into its cloud backups that are safeguarded by Advanced Data Protection (ADP). ADP ensures data is encrypted end-to-end, meaning only the user—not Apple or third parties—can access the contents. Apple had already removed the ADP option for U.K. users after an earlier government order in early 2025 compelled the company to comply with similar demands, though that order was later withdrawn after intervention from the Trump administration.

The current dispute represents a continuation of Apple’s long-running legal battle with the U.K. government over encryption and user privacy. After the initial 2025 order was rescinded, a second notice was issued in October of that year, which Apple is now opposing. The repeated efforts by the U.K. authorities to gain access to encrypted backups raise significant privacy concerns among users and advocates worldwide.

Apple has not publicly commented on the latest development. The company’s stance highlights the ongoing global tension between governments’ attempts to access encrypted digital data for security purposes and technology companies’ efforts to protect user privacy through robust encryption measures. This case could have broader implications for how encrypted cloud data is handled legally and technically in the future.