The UK government has decided not to pursue its request for Apple to create a backdoor into encrypted user data, following disagreements involving US officials.

Tulsi Gabbard, the US Director of National Intelligence, confirmed that the UK has retracted its request for Apple to access protected encrypted information.

She added on X that she worked alongside President Trump and Vice President JD Vance to ensure Americans’ private data remains secure and their constitutional rights are respected.

The disagreement originated from a notice reportedly issued under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, where the Home Office sought access to Apple’s Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature.

This iCloud tool keeps data secure so that even Apple cannot view it. In response, Apple paused the service in the UK and challenged the Home Office in court.

President Trump criticized the UK’s demand, comparing it to Chinese-style surveillance, and said he personally told Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in February that the request was unacceptable.

Senior Conservative MP Sir David Davis praised the government’s decision to drop the request, saying that a backdoor would weaken encryption protections for everyone. Privacy advocates also expressed relief, warning that access could endanger millions of users’ security.

Law enforcement and intelligence agencies have argued that encrypted tools make investigations harder, particularly in cases involving terrorism or child exploitation.

However, the government has faced growing opposition over its attempts to bypass these security measures.

A UK Government spokesperson did not comment directly on the issue but emphasized that security cooperation with the United States continues to address serious threats while protecting privacy and national sovereignty.