• Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock
Editor's Pick

Bipartisan letter warns Gabbard new UK order for backdoor Apple data could jeopardize Americans

by February 13, 2025
written by February 13, 2025

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., penned a letter to newly sworn-in Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, warning that the United Kingdom’s reported new order demanding backdoor Apple data jeopardizes Americans.

The letter, obtained by Fox News Digital, referenced recent press reports that the U.K.’s home secretary ‘served Apple with a secret order last month, directing the company to weaken the security of its iCloud backup service to facilitate government spying.’ The directive reportedly requires the company to weaken the encryption of its iCloud backup service, giving the U.K. government the ‘blanket capability’ to access customers’ encrypted files. 

Reports further state that the order was issued under the U.K.’s Investigatory Powers Act 2016, commonly known as the ‘Snoopers’ Charter,’ which does not require a judge’s approval. 

‘Apple is reportedly gagged from acknowledging that it received such an order, and the company faces criminal penalties that prevent it from even confirming to the U.S. Congress the accuracy of these press reports,’ Wyden and Biggs note. 

The United Kingdom has been increasingly cracking down on British citizens for opposition commentary, especially online posts and memes opposing mass migration. As riots broke out in the U.K. last August after a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event left three girls dead and others wounded, London’s Metropolitan Police chief warned that officials could also extradite and jail U.S. citizens for online posts about the unrest. 

The letter, however, described the threat of China, Russia and other adversaries spying on Americans.

Wyden, who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee, and Biggs, who chairs a House Judiciary subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, asked Gabbard to ‘act decisively to protect the security of Americans’ communications from dangerous, shortsighted efforts by the United Kingdom (U.K.) that will undermine Americans’ privacy rights and expose them to espionage by China, Russia and other adversaries.’ 

The Washington Post was among the outlets to report about the U.K. order. 

‘These reported actions seriously threaten the privacy and security of both the American people and the U.S. government,’ Wyden and Biggs wrote. ‘Apple does not make different versions of its encryption software for each market; Apple customers in the U.K. use the same software as Americans. If Apple is forced to build a backdoor in its products, that backdoor will end up in Americans’ phones, tablets, and computers, undermining the security of Americans’ data, as well as of the countless federal, state and local government agencies that entrust sensitive data to Apple products.’ 

The letter also references a Chinese hacking operation known as ‘Salt Typhoon.’ Last year, the Biden White House admitted the Chinese hacked at least nine U.S. telecommunications companies. 

‘The Salt Typhoon hack of U.S. telephone carriers’ wiretapping systems last year – in which President Trump and Vice President Vance’s calls were tapped by China – provides a perfect example of the dangers of surveillance backdoors,’ the letter says. ‘They will inevitably be compromised by sophisticated foreign adversaries and exploited in ways harmful to U.S. national security. As the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the FBI confirmed last November, People’s Republic of China (PRC)-affiliated actors were involved in ‘copying of certain information that was subject to U.S. law enforcement requests pursuant to court orders.’’ 

‘While the U.K has been a trusted ally, the U.S. government must not permit what is effectively a foreign cyberattack waged through political means. If the U.K. does not immediately reverse this dangerous effort, we urge you to reevaluate U.S.-U.K. cybersecurity arrangements and programs as well as U.S. intelligence sharing with the U.K.,’ the letter says.

Citing a December 2023 report by the U.K. Parliament’s intelligence oversight committee, the letter states that the U.K. benefits greatly from a ‘mutual presumption towards unrestricted sharing of [Signals Intelligence]’ between the U.S. and U.K. and that ‘[t]he weight of advantage in the partnership with the [National Security Agency] is overwhelmingly in [the U.K.’s] favour.’ 

‘The bilateral U.S.-U.K. relationship must be built on trust. If the U.K. is secretly undermining one of the foundations of U.S. cybersecurity, that trust has been profoundly breached,’ Wyden and Biggs wrote. 

At her confirmation hearing, Gabbard stated that ‘backdoors lead down a dangerous path that can undermine Americans’ Fourth Amendment rights and civil liberties.’ In written responses to senators’ questions, she also said, ‘mandating mechanisms to bypass encryption or privacy technologies undermines user security, privacy, and trust and poses significant risks of exploitation by malicious actors.’

‘We urge you to put those words into action by giving the U.K. an ultimatum: back down from this dangerous attack on U.S. cybersecurity, or face serious consequences,’ Wyden and Biggs wrote.

The letter asks Gabbard specifically whether the Trump administration was made aware of the reported order, either by the U.K. or Apple, prior to the press reports and, if so, when and by whom. They also ask what the Trump administration’s understanding is of U.K. law ‘and the bilateral CLOUD Act agreement with regard to an exception to gag orders for notice to the U.S. government.’ Wyden and Biggs asked what the Trump administration’s understanding is ‘of its obligation to inform Congress and the American public about foreign government demands for U.S. companies to weaken the security of their products, pursuant to the CLOUD Act?’ The letter asked that unclassified answers be provided by March 3. 

Fox News Digital reached out to Apple and the White House regarding the letter, but neither immediately responded.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

previous post
Trump’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ commission to target autism, chronic diseases
next post
Trump temporarily thwarted in DOGE mission to end USAID

related articles

Government shutdown enters 3rd day as Senate stalemate...

October 3, 2025

GOP rising star exposes how Biden admin was...

October 3, 2025

Federal judge to sentence Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s attempted...

October 3, 2025

Hawley blasts FDA approval of new abortion drug,...

October 2, 2025

Trump’s DOGE savings dwarfed by Medicare, Social Security...

October 2, 2025

FLASHBACK: James Comey urged officials to always prosecute...

October 2, 2025

The agency staff Vought might recommend cutting and...

October 2, 2025

Reagan-appointed judge, once rebuked by Supreme Court, continues...

October 2, 2025

‘Real consequences’: Food aid, flood insurance, FEMA funds...

October 2, 2025

Trump must triple severely outdated nuke arsenal to...

October 2, 2025
Enter Your Information Below To Receive Free Trading Ideas, Latest News, And Articles.


Your information is secure and your privacy is protected. By opting in you agree to receive emails from us. Remember that you can opt-out any time, we hate spam too!

Latest News

  • Top US ally, SDF commander in Syria warns of ISIS return if Turkish airstrikes don’t stop

    December 13, 2024
  • Trump picks Karoline Leavitt to serve as White House press secretary

    November 16, 2024
  • Biden continues vacation for second straight week despite saying he will ‘work like hell’ until end of term

    August 29, 2024
  • White House unleashes on ‘rogue bureaucrats’ after agency head refuses DOGE entry to headquarters

    March 8, 2025
  • KuCoin Fined $300M for Unlicensed U.S. Operations

    January 28, 2025

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Secret Service admits leaning on ‘state and local partners’ after claim it ignored Trump team’s past requests

    July 21, 2024
  • 2

    Five more House Democrats call on Biden to drop out, third US senator

    July 19, 2024
  • 3

    Elon and Vivek should tackle US funding for this boondoogle organization and score a multimillion dollar win

    December 4, 2024
  • 4

    Forex Profit Calculator: Maximize Your Trading Potential

    July 10, 2024
  • 5

    Biden calls to ‘lower the temperature’ then bashes Trump in NAACP speech

    July 17, 2024

Categories

  • Economy (829)
  • Editor's Pick (6,250)
  • Investing (634)
  • Stock (935)

Latest Posts

  • FCC greenlights Paramount’s $8 billion merger with entertainment group Skydance

    July 25, 2025
  • Harris leads Trump by 4 nationally as both candidates narrow gender gap, poll finds

    November 4, 2024
  • Probe into Biden’s alleged mental decline cover-up deepens with more former White House officials to testify

    July 2, 2025

Recent Posts

  • Sotomayor criticizes presidential immunity case as putting the high court’s legitimacy on the line

    February 7, 2025
  • Etsy CEO says company is escaping ‘race to the bottom’ and getting back to its artisan roots

    July 10, 2024
  • Iran doubles down on refusal to end nuclear program, ready for war with Israel

    July 23, 2025

Editor’s Pick

  • Elon Musk’s net worth soars $184B after Donald Trump’s victory: is $500B within reach this week?

    December 17, 2024
  • Morning Glory: The worst debate in the history of presidential debates

    September 12, 2024
  • Weekly mortgage refinance demand soars 16% as rates sink to lowest level in over a year

    August 7, 2024
  • About us
  • Contacts
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Disclaimer: moneyrisetoday.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

Copyright © 2025 moneyrisetoday.com | All Rights Reserved

Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock