Apple (AAPL.US) launches a new legal challenge, confronting the UK government's request to access users' encrypted data.

According to Jinse Finance APP, Apple (AAPL.US) is mounting a new legal challenge in a UK court against the British government's attempt to access customers' encrypted data, including that of iPhone users, two people familiar with the matter disclosed.

Sources stated that a court responsible for reviewing covert surveillance activities in the UK issued a notice on Monday, revealing that Apple has filed a new legal challenge against the British government's move to access user data stored in the cloud. The court's related procedures are typically not open to the public. It is currently unclear what exact claims Apple made in the legal documents. The court plans to hold a hearing on the legal challenge in September.

This is the latest development in a major privacy dispute between the two sides, following an order by UK authorities last year for Apple to bypass encryption measures used to protect cloud user data. The action was criticized by privacy advocates and senior US government officials, who argued that the UK was seeking to establish a “backdoor” for accessing user files, including photos and communications records.

Under pressure from the Trump administration, the UK government agreed not to seek access to data of US citizens. However, sources said British authorities have continued to request Apple grant access to UK user data. According to sources, on July 13, Apple filed a new legal challenge regarding the British government's access to such data through a special UK court—the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.

A UK government spokesperson declined to comment on the specific details of the case. In an emailed statement, the spokesperson said: “The UK supports strong encryption technologies and robust privacy protection measures, but it is equally important for law enforcement to be able to access communications content, when necessary and proportionate, to protect the public from terrorism, serious crime, and child sexual abuse.”

The legal dispute concerns a “Technical Capability Notice” issued by the UK government to Apple. Such notices can compel companies to remove encryption protections from their services. Organizations supporting Apple’s challenge to the notice's legality include Liberty and Privacy International, both of which have been notified by the court of Apple's latest legal action. A Privacy International spokesperson stated: “We are pleased to learn that Apple is once again challenging the UK’s secret order regime.” The spokesperson said the organization is not privy to the specific content of Apple’s lawsuit, but emphasized that maintaining encryption for Apple iCloud storage “is vital for protecting the privacy and security of us all.”

The dispute between the UK government and Apple began in 2022 when Apple introduced the Advanced Data Protection feature for iCloud. This optional feature enables encryption of most data in users’ iCloud accounts, including messages and device backups. In February 2025, Apple removed UK users’ access to the feature. The British government has argued that access to user data is necessary for the purposes of national security and criminal investigations.

Apple has continuously defended the use of encryption in its products. In 2023, the company told the British Parliament that encryption “is critical for protecting ordinary citizens from unlawful surveillance, identity theft, fraud, and data breaches. It is also a vital line of defense for journalists, human rights activists, and diplomats who may become targets of malicious actors.”