If I shout, "Alexa, play GB News Radio!" your Alexa, who is listening to every word and waiting for you to call her name, is at the ready. In many cases, she's recording what you say.
Now, I’m sort of okay with that because I bought an Alexa, and I can switch her off—just like my iPhone is waiting for me to shout, “Hey Siri!” and it responds with a “Huh?”
Because, like Alexa, it’s listening and observing my choices. I’ve accepted that because I’ve brought these devices into my home, and I can switch them off, rest assured that the most sensitive parts of my data are protected from everyone—even though I have nothing to hide.
I’m comforted by the notion that, unless I join a stupid WhatsApp group like Labour MP Andrew Gwynne and spout a load of guff denigrating people, which can then be shared, I’m safe unless I’m that stupid.
But I draw the line at this latest move. The government has requested access to encrypted iCloud data under the Investigatory Powers Act, which came into force under the Conservatives in 2016 and was amended during that tenure in April 2024.
The government has requested access to encrypted iCloud data under the Investigatory Powers Act
GB NEWS
It's ironic because back in 2015, our great leader and freedom fighter, the free speech warrior Sir Keir Starmer, said this: “Surveillance should be targeted at those that need to be identified, but it shouldn't be general and shouldn't apply to the public in general.”
Really? Well, that was, of course, before he became the party leader and, now, the Prime Minister. But now his government wants to remove ADP (Advanced Data Protection), which is an Apple security feature providing end-to-end encryption.
This basically means that only you, the user, can access your data—not even Apple can get their hands on it. It would give the government access to everything in your iCloud storage without a warrant.
Think about it: all your photos, your computer files, your messages, passwords—everything. And if they can get it, so can hackers. Now, this doesn't bear thinking about.
I suspect that Home Secretary Suella Braverman hasn't done any real thinking and frankly, hasn’t thought this through. Her party could find themselves at the receiving end of it. The skeletons are practically falling out of their closet, and on a global scale, it weakens our protection as a nation.
Apple would have to create a security backdoor, allowing authorities to access our files. Of course, Apple refused, because they can clearly see that people who object to this aren’t necessarily hiding things. We’re just not so naïve as this Labour government to think that access like this will only be used for honourable reasons.
In a tweet, Reform MP Rupert Lowe said: "Encryption matters. I want my data to be private, especially from the state." He asked, "Why? Why now? Why does the state need this?"
Apple rolled over, and then said, "No," asking: "Why do we trust the state with our newly unencrypted data?"
The answer is: no way. Leave our data alone. In another tweet, he pointed out: "Apple have caved to Labour's overreach, stripping Brits of vital encryption protections that are available in the US and the EU."
If the government has access to your iCloud data, then so do bad actors. This is going to cause chaos with your data. Labour needs to urgently rethink this.
'Seriously, don't let this go under the radar'
APPLE PRESS OFFICEDavid Davis posted that, in an attempt to meet the demands of the Home Office based on false illusions of providing security, Apple has been forced to entirely undermine the online security of pretty much every UK citizen who uses an Apple product.
Seriously, don't let this go under the radar. While most of us are honest, removing protections like ADP keeps us safe from hackers, people trying to exploit our data, and an ever-encroaching government.
Your information in my hands is fine,I wouldn’t be interested in pictures of you nude or emails you send or anything,unless, of course, I don’t like you.
But in the wrong hands, or even in the so-called right hands like government, it’s dangerous. It would mean everything in your iCloud storage is accessible, and that is frightening.
