CW+ Premium Content/Computer Weekly

A court is to hear legal challenges against a secret order issued by the Home Office that requires Apple to give British law enforcement and intelligence agencies the ability to access users’ encrypted data stored on iCloud in a public hearing in 2026. The Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) ruled on 23 July that it would hear five legal challenges, brought by Apple, Privacy International, Liberty and two individuals, in open court over seven days at the “earliest opportunity” next year. The court refused to allow encrypted messaging service WhatsApp the right to intervene and submit evidence in the case brought by campaign groups Privacy International and Liberty. Apple is bringing its own case, which will be considered alone. WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart submitted evidence to the tribunal in June, raising concerns that the move by the UK government would undermine the security of people using encrypted communication and cloud services. He said the technical capability notice (TCN) would set a “dangerous precedent for security ...