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Apple pulls data protection tool after UK government security row

bbc.com

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Re: Apple pulls data protection tool after UK government security row

#51

Post by ziddoap »

piyuv wrote: post #44
ziddoap wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The choice was either eliminate it now (globally, via introduction of a backdoor) or eliminate it in the UK (but keep it globally). So, perhaps this is a bit of a dangerous precedent, but it was the least-bad option.

When UK demanded a backdoor to e2ee in iMessage, Apple told them they’d rather get out of UK. Why not do the same here? You’re posing a false dichotomy.

What would that change, effectively, other than have Apple lose money?

The UK would still lose ADP (and then also just Apple products in general). A precedent would still be set.

Your posing a strictly worse third option. Sure, it's an option, I guess. Apple could also just close down globally, as a fourth option. Or sell off to Google as a fifth. But I was trying to present the least-bad option (turn off ADP), rather than an exhaustive list.

Re: Apple pulls data protection tool after UK government security row

#53

Post by nobankai »

herf wrote: post #52

Why is there only one "iCloud" to backup your iPhone and store photos? Lots of ADP users would use a corporate or self-hosted solution instead.

The reason is that Apple was never required by UK law to offer any alternative. I think the DSA intended to challenge that, but it would do nothing for UK residents.

Re: Apple pulls data protection tool after UK government security row

#55

Post by dmix »

fguerraz wrote: post #30
jiriknesl wrote: post #13

I wonder, what are the alternatives now? Tresorit? Self-hosted Nextcloud?

There is no alternative really as only iCloud can back-up your settings, saved networks, and apps data. Other apps like Nextcloud, can only backup documents (those not in apps) and pictures, because there's an API for this. iTunes backup is an option, but it's not automatic and convenient.

It encrypts your entire phone backups as well

Re: Apple pulls data protection tool after UK government security row

#57

Post by dmix »

nobankai wrote: post #6
smidgeon wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

End-to-end-encryption-except-when-the-UK-government-is-interested doesn't have the same ring to it, liable to damage the brand ....

FWIW people always put too much trust in E2EE where they didn't control either end. This was a loooong time coming.

People aren't going to use your self-hosted E2E tools on a wide scale. We've been down that road. Best to secure the systems people already use.

Re: Apple pulls data protection tool after UK government security row

#59

Post by ben_w »

miroljub wrote: post #25
Retr0id wrote: post #4

As someone currently a citizen of the UK, what are my best emigration opportunities?

If you value personal freedoms, you should go to East Europe. The more to the east, the better. Snowden went to Russia.

> Snowden went to Russia.

He was stuck in an airport when his passport got cancelled. It's not really a free choice if you can't go anywhere else, and planes suspected of carrying you get forced to land, even if by virtue of being denied airspace access until they run out of fuel.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evo_Morales_grounding_incident

Re: Apple pulls data protection tool after UK government security row

#60

Post by vroomvroomboom »

declan_roberts wrote: post #46

I don't get what's happening to civil liberty in Europe.

Nothing is happening to it. Governmental overreach, and then if people really want encryption they will vote in privacy-friendly officials. Here in Oregon, USA, we have Ron Wyden, who knows more about netsec than most IT graduates.

As long as you can vote there is still civil liberty, just vote for the right people who care about this stuff.

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