The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) and a coalition of industry organizations have sent a letter to U.S. officials raising concerns about the United Kingdom’s reported use of the Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) to demand access to users’ end-to-end encrypted data in Apple iCloud. The letter warns that this move would not only undermine encryption protections but also set a dangerous precedent by compelling companies to create security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by bad actors.
The coalition urges the U.S. government to engage with the UK to address the far-reaching consequences of this policy, which threatens consumer privacy, global cybersecurity, and technological innovation. Weakening encryption would expose U.S. citizens, businesses, and government entities to greater risks while emboldening authoritarian regimes to demand similar access. The letter requests a meeting with key officials to discuss the implications of the UK’s actions and explore potential responses.
