{"id":151801,"date":"2022-12-08T13:26:23","date_gmt":"2022-12-08T13:26:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/fbi-calls-apples-enhanced-icloud-encryption-deeply-concerning-as-privacy-groups-hail-it-as-a-victory-for-users\/"},"modified":"2022-12-08T13:26:23","modified_gmt":"2022-12-08T13:26:23","slug":"fbi-calls-apples-enhanced-icloud-encryption-deeply-concerning-as-privacy-groups-hail-it-as-a-victory-for-users","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/fbi-calls-apples-enhanced-icloud-encryption-deeply-concerning-as-privacy-groups-hail-it-as-a-victory-for-users\/","title":{"rendered":"FBI Calls Apple’s Enhanced iCloud Encryption ‘Deeply Concerning’ as Privacy Groups Hail It As a Victory for Users"},"content":{"rendered":"
Apple yesterday announced that end-to-end encryption is coming to even more sensitive types of iCloud data, including device backups, messages, photos, and more, meeting the longstanding demand of both users and privacy groups who have rallyed for the company to take the significant step forward in user privacy.<\/p>\n
\u200ciCloud\u200c end-to-end encryption, or what Apple calls “Advanced Data Protection,” encrypts users’ data stored in \u200ciCloud\u200c, meaning only a trusted device can decrypt and read the data. \u200ciCloud\u200c data in accounts with Advanced Data Protection can only be read by a trusted device, not Apple, law enforcement, or government entities.<\/p>\n
Following its announcements, the EFF or Electronic Frontier Foundation, a group that has long-called for Apple to enable end-to-end encryption and take more steps to safeguard user privacy, put out a statement applauding the new feature and Apple’s renewed commitment to privacy.<\/p>\n
\nWe applaud Apple for listening to experts, child advocates, and users who want to protect their most sensitive data. Encryption is one of the most important tools we have for maintaining privacy and security online. That’s why we included the demand that Apple let users encrypt iCloud backups in the Fix It Already campaign that we launched in 2019. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Meredith Whittaker, CEO of the popular encrypted messaging app Signal, said the decision by Apple to offer end-to-end encryption “is great.” “There’s been enough pressure and enough narrative work that they see the side of history forming. It’s really incredible,” Whittaker told The Washington Post<\/em>. <\/p>\n
The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, or STOP, called Advanced Data Protection “essential and overdue.” Despite the announcement, the group is “disappointed” that end-to-end encryption will require users to opt-in and is not to be enabled by default. Fox Cahn, the group’s executive director, said, “it’s good to see Apple’s privacy protections catching up with its sales pitch, but making these protections opt-in will leave most users vulnerable.”<\/p>\n
\nFor years, Apple has touted its privacy record while leaving its users vulnerable, particularly to police surveillance. Much of the data users store on iCloud is just a court order away from becoming a policing tool. With these changes, Apple will keep up with the privacy best practices that other companies have followed for years. But it’s disappointing that users have to opt-in to many of these new protections, leaving the vast majority at risk.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Fight for the Future, another privacy-focused advocacy group, said on Twitter<\/a> that Apple’s announcement of end-to-end encryption brings the company’s marketing of being privacy-focused to reality. “Apple’s reputation as the pro-privacy tech company has long been at odds with the reality that \u200ciCloud\u200c backups aren’t secured by end-to-end encryption. This news means people’s personal messages, documents, and data will be secure from law enforcement , hackers, and Apple itself.” The group is now calling<\/a> upon Apple to implement RCS messaging into iPhone, a move the group says is a “non-negotiable next step.”<\/p>\n
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