Apple pulls end-to-end encryption feature from UK after demands for law enforcement access

Brandon Pugh, director of cybersecurity and emerging threats at the right-leaning R Street Institute, told CyberScoop that Apple’s decision is largely consistent with its previously stated positions on user privacy and encryption.

“Apple’s position has always been that if we create a back door, is that a way that a bad actor — regardless of how people feel about government authorities — is that something a criminal group could exploit?” Pugh said. 

However, there are plenty of supporters in U.S. national security and law enforcement for similar “lawful access” mandates on the private sector. Further, the appointment of Trump loyalists like Kash Patel at the FBI and Pam Bondi at the Department of Justice — who have promised to investigate alleged wrongdoing by Trump’s political enemies — have caused concerns that weakening encryption for U.S. users could facilitate political prosecution.

Pugh said he expects to see the issue gain more interest from U.S. policymakers as they consider the potential ramifications on domestic privacy.

“I think we will see, potentially, members of Congress share their reactions on this because maybe it would foreshadow a similar outcome in the U.S., and perhaps [they want to] get ahead of it,” Pugh said.