UK orders Apple to provide spy access to its iCloud accounts

Britain secretly ordered Apple to allow UK security officials to retrieve data from any Apple user’s iCloud account anywhere in the world, the Washington Post reported.

The order, issued last month under the UK’s 2016 Investigatory Powers Act, goes beyond standard government requests for criminal investigations.

Unlike past government requests for specific data in criminal cases, this undisclosed order requires Apple to give British authorities broad access to encrypted cloud storage.

Apple can appeal the order that deals a blow to user privacy but must comply during the process. Critics warn this move could set a dangerous precedent, allowing other governments to demand similar access.

Privacy advocates fear the order could expose user data to cyber threats and government surveillance worldwide.