UK backing down on Apple encryption backdoor after pressure from US • Hacker News Board

Re: UK backing down on Apple encryption backdoor after pressure from US

#11

Post by pjc50 » Mon, Jul 21, 2025, 3:03 PM UTC

jonplackett wrote: post #6

I assumed they’d only have asked for it if they’d already OKed it with the US, and that it was probably part of a plan to give US access too via 5-eyes sharing. Turns out it was not 4D chess after all…

The UK home office has really, really wanted this for decades, through all sorts of technologies. Institutional paranoia.

Re: UK backing down on Apple encryption backdoor after pressure from US

#12

Post by Hypergraphe » Mon, Jul 21, 2025, 3:04 PM UTC

duxup wrote: post #4

I really sort of expected that by the time I reached my age that we'd have more policy makers that understood tech a little better. I feel like in the last say 25 or more years ... the needle hasn't moved.

I don't think it is a matter of really understanding the tech. It has to do more about how you envision the society regarding privacy and individual rights. It is indeed a political point of view on how much you want to control everything.

Re: UK backing down on Apple encryption backdoor after pressure from US

#13

Post by omeid2 » Mon, Jul 21, 2025, 3:04 PM UTC

duxup wrote: post #4

I really sort of expected that by the time I reached my age that we'd have more policy makers that understood tech a little better. I feel like in the last say 25 or more years ... the needle hasn't moved.

Your subtle idea that the comprehension and understanding is the shortcoming of political apparatus is overlooks the million issues as basic healthcare not being addressed. The problem is not understanding, I can assure you of that.

Re: UK backing down on Apple encryption backdoor after pressure from US

#14

Post by pjc50 » Mon, Jul 21, 2025, 3:05 PM UTC

ryanmcbride wrote: post #9

duxup wrote: post #4

I really sort of expected that by the time I reached my age that we'd have more policy makers that understood tech a little better. I feel like in the last say 25 or more years ... the needle hasn't moved.

Yeah unfortunately we live in a gerontocracy so it's the same people in charge today that were 25 years ago :(

UK not quite as bad as the US age wise, but the real issue is the media who demand all sorts of illiberal things.

Rupert Murdoch is 94.

Re: UK backing down on Apple encryption backdoor after pressure from US

#15

Post by Arubis » Mon, Jul 21, 2025, 3:07 PM UTC

esafak wrote: post #3

tl,dr: "Vance argued that free speech and democracy were threatened by European elites." edit: Don't shoot the messenger.

This tracks. Vance is probably a potential supporter of strong crypto insofar as it’s demanded of him by the VC class.

Re: UK backing down on Apple encryption backdoor after pressure from US

#16

Post by xhkkffbf » Mon, Jul 21, 2025, 3:07 PM UTC

duxup wrote: post #4

I really sort of expected that by the time I reached my age that we'd have more policy makers that understood tech a little better. I feel like in the last say 25 or more years ... the needle hasn't moved.

It does seem to me like the US Vice President is advancing a pretty tech savvy policy. He's pushing for privacy. Am I missing something?

Re: UK backing down on Apple encryption backdoor after pressure from US

#17

Post by lenerdenator » Mon, Jul 21, 2025, 3:07 PM UTC

That surprises me, honestly. Makes you wonder what the British government got in return for forgetting about the encryption loicence idea.

Re: UK backing down on Apple encryption backdoor after pressure from US

#18

Post by setgree » Mon, Jul 21, 2025, 3:07 PM UTC

duxup wrote: post #4

I really sort of expected that by the time I reached my age that we'd have more policy makers that understood tech a little better. I feel like in the last say 25 or more years ... the needle hasn't moved.

This article is explicitly about how J.D. Vance (age 40) & others at the White House are forcefully advocating for preserving E2E encryption. Arguably not for the right reasons, but still.

I'm not sure what you mean by "more" but what you are asking for is in fact happening.

Re: UK backing down on Apple encryption backdoor after pressure from US

#19

Post by lenerdenator » Mon, Jul 21, 2025, 3:08 PM UTC

xhkkffbf wrote: post #16

duxup wrote: post #4

I really sort of expected that by the time I reached my age that we'd have more policy makers that understood tech a little better. I feel like in the last say 25 or more years ... the needle hasn't moved.

It does seem to me like the US Vice President is advancing a pretty tech savvy policy. He's pushing for privacy. Am I missing something?

He's associated with Palantir. He can't be pushing for privacy.

Re: UK backing down on Apple encryption backdoor after pressure from US

#20

Post by duxup » Mon, Jul 21, 2025, 3:08 PM UTC

xhkkffbf wrote: post #16

duxup wrote: post #4

I really sort of expected that by the time I reached my age that we'd have more policy makers that understood tech a little better. I feel like in the last say 25 or more years ... the needle hasn't moved.

It does seem to me like the US Vice President is advancing a pretty tech savvy policy. He's pushing for privacy. Am I missing something?

I feel like the federal government continuously consolidating all data available under groups like DODGE or ICE or Palantir is about as anti privacy as it gets.