Apple has filed a new complaint with the UK's Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) regarding government demands to access encrypted user data.
The filing was reportedly submitted to the IPT in July 2026. The legal action follows an attempt by the UK government in October 2025 to demand access to Apple's data, after previously backing down following complaints from the United States.
The UK government seeks to use a 'technical capability notice' to access user data by breaking iCloud security. This demand involves a capability that would ostensibly not affect users in the United States.
Security and Privacy Disputes
Apple argues that any backdoor into its systems weakens iPhone security for all users. The UK government's position has previously been that such backdoors do not imperil security or privacy.
The United States has previously argued that the UK weakening privacy would force intelligence services to withhold information from the country for security reasons. In 2024, the UK reworked its laws to grant itself the authority to legally and secretly demand Apple's assistance in spying on iPhone users globally.
The human rights group Privacy International launched a complaint against technical capability notices, with its case due to be heard in December 2025.
Neither Apple nor the UK Home Office is legally allowed to comment publicly on the case.
