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Apple takes on the UK government on encryption

by on23 December 2015


We will show them who is boss

Fruity cargo-cult Apple is taking on the UK government warning that Prime Minister David Cameron’s plans to give its spooks extra online surveillance powers could weaken the security of personal data for millions of people and paralyse the tech sector.

Normally we would be applauding a brave stand by a tech company taking on Big Government tyranny, but, given that it is Apple, it is less likely to have the consumer's interests at heart. In fact it is more likely to be the case that Jobs’ Mob just does not want to do what it is told and is threatening to throw its toys out of the pram if the government does not obey. Apple is currently playing a similar game over its tax antics and running its book cartel.

Apple installs a lot of encryption in its phones and sees the UK government demands as interfering with its business decisions.

Britain unveiled proposals for new online powers last month that it said were needed to keep the country safe from criminals, fraudsters and militants, including the right to find out which websites people visit.

Critics however say the Investigatory Powers Bill gives British spies authority beyond those available in other Western countries, including the United States, and that it constitutes an assault on personal freedom.

Apple said that it was wrong to weaken security for hundreds of millions of law-abiding customers so that it will also be weaker for the very few who pose a threat.

Apple submitted its response to a British parliamentary committee that is scrutinising the new bill in the latest clash between Western governments seeking to monitor the threat from Islamist militants and online companies working to maintain security.

Apple said the draft laws could weaken data encryption, sanction interference with its products, force non-UK companies to break the laws of their home countries, and spark similar legislation in other countries that could paralyse firms under the weight of dozens of contradictory laws.

Proposals in the new bill would weaken encryption, such as the explicit obligation on service providers to help intercept data and hack suspects' devices.

Apple is not the only tech company that is moaning, although if you read the Tame Apple Press you could be forgiven for believing that.

Microsoft has said that a more international approach would keep people more secure than competing measures from different countries.

"The legislation must avoid conflicts with the laws of other nations and contribute to a system where likeminded governments work together, not in competition, to keep people more secure," a spokeswoman said.

In its submission to the draft bill, Apple criticised any such requirement to create "backdoors" that could weaken the protections built into Apple products.

"A key left under the doormat would not just be there for the good guys. The bad guys would find it too."

Like we said, we can only test Apple’s sincerity about this if it chooses to pull out of the lucrative UK market if the law goes ahead. Our guess is that it will not – after all it seems to have few problems with China.

Last modified on 23 December 2015
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