Apple threatens to stop FaceTime and iMessage in the UK due to encryption law. Apple has criticized a proposed British law that could force tech platforms to weaken encryption. The company is threatening to discontinue FaceTime and iMessage services in the UK if the law is passed.
According to The Guardian, Apple argues that the proposed law would make the British government the de facto global arbiter of permissible data security and encryption. The law would require tech platforms to inform the British government if they intend to modify their security in a way that could have a negative impact on intelligence investigations.
Only after receiving approval from the British government would Apple be allowed to implement security changes. The law would also grant the British government the power to compel companies to immediately disable certain security measures without publicly disclosing the action. Currently, there is independent oversight, and companies can appeal before being required to weaken security measures.
Apple claims that this proposed law presents the company with an “impossible choice”: to deliberately and secretly introduce vulnerabilities into their software for the British government, which the company says it would never do, or to halt the development of additional security features. If the law passes, Apple states it will not offer its services in the United Kingdom.
Apart from the amendment to the Investigatory Powers Act, there is also criticism in the United Kingdom regarding the Online Safety Bill. Under this law, messaging services could be compelled to scan for content related to child abuse. WhatsApp and Signal have previously protested against this bill, with the latter also threatening to discontinue its services in the country due to the proposed legislation.
