The US President's Most Senior Advisor on Intelligence and Security has warned that any attempt by the uk to require tech company apple to create a “backdoor” that would be able to allow the house Data of American's would be a “clear and egregious violation.”
The US Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, said in a Letter Published today That she shared concerns raised by Congress over reports that uk has issued an order against apple that count “undermine American's privacy and Civil Liberties”.
Her intervention comes just days after apple announced that it Would No longer provide uk smartphone and iPad users with its “Advanced Data Protection” ServiceWhich allows users to encrypt their data on apple's iCloud.
Apple made the move following disclosures that the uk was seeking access to encrypted data stored on apple's iCloud service anyware in the world.
In a letter to Senator Ron Wyden of Colorado and Representative andy biggs of arizona, gabbard disclosed Media.
“The UK Company from voicing their concerns with myself, or the public, “She Told Wyden and Biggs.
Gabbard, the recent appointed us Director of National Intelligence, Acts as the Executive Head of the US Intelligence Community, Which Includes The Cia, the Cia, the National Security Agency and Other Intelligence Agency. She is also the Principal Advisor to President Donald Trump on Intelligence matters.
In a move likely to raise tensions between the uk and the us just as prime minister keir starmer arrives in washington for a high profile meeting with the USDED Move by the UK would “Open up a serial vulnerability for cyber exploitation by adversarial actors”.
Senator wyden and representative biggs, who sit on opposite sides of the political divide in washington, Wrote to gabbard asking the administration to kick the uk out of the 65-ya-old uk.-uk.-uk. If the uk does not withdraw the demand to apple, computer weekly reported on 13 February.
Gabbard Told The two Politicians that She Had Directed Her Counterparts in the Intelligence Community at the Cia, The Defense Intelligence Agency, The Department of Homeland Security and the NATIONAL SECURITY SECURITY SECURITY AGENCY AGENCY TOTRITY Insights Regarding the publicly reported actions “of the uk and that she would subsequently” Engage with UK Officials “.
Sheid she had directed a Senior Intelligence Officer to work with her department's office of civil liberty, privacy, and transparency and official engine engine engine and office Compeling a US company to create a “back door” that would allow the uk government to retrieve private content.
Gabbard Had also Asked Lawyers to Provide a legal opinion on the implications of the uk. ' Bilateral agreement between the uk and the US Under the Us cloud act Which allows law enforcement reciprocal access to data help in Each Country for Fighting Serious Crime.
“UPON Initial Review of the US and UK Bilateral Cloud Act Agreement, The United Kingdom May Not Issue Demands for data of us citizens, nationals, or lawful Permanent Residents… Persons located inside the united states, “She Wrote.
“Any Information Sharing Between a Government – ANY GOVERNMENT – PRIVATE Companies must be done in a manner that respects and protects the us law and the constitutional rights of us citizens,” the letter adds.
“I look forward to ensuring the uk government has taken care of action She said.
While the US Intelligence Relationships with Foreign Partners are of “Vital Importance to Us National Security”, Gabbard Said That Her Obligations as Directors of National Intelligence “Protecting Both Security of our country and the God-Given rights of the American people enshrined in the us constitution. “
Computer weekly earlier reported that wyden and biggs who First raised Concerns about apple with gabbardAre on opposite sides of the political divide.
Wyden is a liberal democrat who has campaigned for health and the environment; Biggs is a loud trump supporter and a noted Organiser of the “Maga Squad”. Wyden, from oregon, serves on the Senate Intelligence and Finance Committee; Biggs, from Arizona, Chairs the House Judiciary Subcommite on Crime and Federal Government Survelance.
They argue that weakening american cybersecurity is particularly shortsighted following following Vance's calls.
Us security officials have Advised Americans to use encrypted services To secure their calls, texts, and other communications against Foreign Hackers and Criminals, In Response to the Chinese Attack.
Wyden and Biggs Urged Gabbart to Re-Evaluate Us-Uk Collaboration on Cybersecurity and Intelligence sharing if the uk did not immediatively revoce its position.
“The bilateral US-uk relationship must be built on Trust. If the UK is secretly undermining one of the foundations of us cybersecurity, that Trust has been profoundly breeded, “they win in a letter to gabbard on 13 February.
They cite a report by the uk Parliament's Intelligence oversight committee in 2023Which found that uk gained more from sharing intelligence with the us, than the us gained from sharing intelligence with the uk.
The report stated “The UK Benefits Great from a” Mutual presumption towards unrestricted sharing of [Signals Intelligence]”Between the US and Uk and That”[t]He weight of advantage in the partnership with the [National Security Agency] is overwhelmingly in [the UK.’s] Favor, “According to their Letter.
The home secretary, yvette cooper, served apple with a Technical Capability NoticeIn January, Ordering it to provide the government with back door access to material stored by apple users on its encrypted cloud service.
The notice, the first reported by the washinton post, was issued under the investigate power Notice served against it.
The Investigation Powers Act, Gives Powers to the Government to Issue Technical Capability Notices to Remove or Modify “Electronic Protection” 253, part 5 (c).