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Tulsi Gabbard struck the United Kingdom’s request that Apple built a “rear door” in his iCloud security system, saying that such a decision would be a “blatant violation” of the privacy of the Americans who was likely to violate the data agreement of the two countries.
Reply to a letter The Democratic senator Ron Wyden and the member of the Republican Congress Andy Biggs, the American director of national intelligence said that she shared their “serious concern” that she could allow the British authorities to access the personal data of the Americans. Gabbard said she had asked lawyers and intelligence managers to investigate the issue.
“I share your serious concern about the serious implications of the United Kingdom or any foreign country, forcing Apple or any company to create a” back door “that would allow access to the personal data of Americans,” Gabbard wrote to American legislators.
“It would be a clear and obvious violation of the privacy of Americans and civil freedoms, and will open a serious vulnerability to cyber operating by opponents.”
Apple last week has removed its most secure cloud storage service Of the United Kingdom, claiming that it “can no longer offer” the advanced data protection (ADP) for iCloud in the country.
This decision was made after emerging that Apple had received a secret “technical capacity opinion” last month under the UK Investigatory Powers Act, asking him to allow police to access the encrypted data stored in the cloud.
Under the IPA, which was updated last year in the last weeks of the previous conservative government, the beneficiaries of a technical capacity notice are not allowed to discuss it. Gabbard said she had not been informed of the order before it was reported in the press this month.
The law enforcement officials clashed with technological companies for more than a decade during the use of encryption, which, according to investigators, says that Shields criminals and hinder terrorists and children’s attackers.
Technological companies, including Apple and WhatsApp Meta from WhatsApp, have argued that encryption provides vital protection to consumers because they are increasingly containing their personal information to smartphones, messaging applications and online storage services.
The United Kingdom and the United States have struck Bilateral data access contract In 2019, allowing countries to share evidence related to terrorism and other serious crimes after the approval of a judge or other independent authority.
Gabbard said his legal team examined the implications of the United Kingdom’s request for this agreement, known as the cloud law, adding that an “initial examination” suggested that the United Kingdom “cannot issue data from American citizens, nationals or permanent legal residents.”
“I can’t wait to ensure that the British government has taken the necessary measures to protect the privacy of American citizens, in accordance with the cloud law and other applicable laws,” she said.
Earlier this month, Wyden and Biggs called the American president Donald Trump and Apple to “tell the United Kingdom that he can go directly to hell with his secret request”, saying: “The United States government should not allow what is actually a foreign cyber attack led by political means.”
Apple itself cannot access the data stored using the “end-to-end” encryption system of ADP. Complying with the order of the United Kingdom would require Apple in Vigue securitywithout the knowledge of its users.
Unlike its standard iCloud storage system, which Apple is capable of deciphering upon receipt of a legal mandate, ADP activation obliges users to hold the only key to unlock their data.
“We are seriously disappointed that the protections provided by ADP will not be available for our customers in the United Kingdom, given the rise in data violations and other threats to customer confidentiality,” said Apple last week.
“As we have said several times before, we have never built a rear door or main key to any of our products or services and we will never do it.”
