Technology reporter Tom Singleton reported that the Home Office’s attempt to keep details of its legal dispute with Apple over data privacy out of the public eye has been unsuccessful. The UK government has been seeking access to information protected by Apple’s Advanced Data Protection (ADP) system, citing its powers under the Investigatory Powers Act. Apple currently does not have the ability to access such data, as it is only accessible by the user, and has expressed concerns about creating a potential “backdoor” into ADP that could be exploited for criminal purposes. This request from the government has drawn criticism from privacy advocates and some US lawmakers.
As a result of the legal dispute, Apple made the decision to remove ADP from the UK in February, and subsequently initiated legal proceedings against the government in March. The case is currently being reviewed by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal. The government argued that revealing the details of the case, including the parties involved, could jeopardize national security. However, the tribunal judges disagreed with this argument, emphasizing the importance of open justice and the extensive media coverage the dispute has received.
In a ruling released on Monday morning, the tribunal judges stated that holding a secret hearing without public knowledge would be unprecedented. They concluded that disclosing the basic details of the case would not harm the public interest or compromise national security. The Home Office has been requested to provide a statement regarding the ruling, but has not yet responded to the request
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