Apple would rather remove iMessage and FaceTime in the UK than end-to-end encryption – Apple

A new Internet Security Bill is currently under consideration. Apple, WhatsApp, Signal and other services have expressed their opposition to this proposal.

The UK government wants the ability to scan end-to-end encrypted messages for child abuse and other illegal content. He even argues that current law allows it, but that it is technically outdated due to safety provisions in modern technology.

Apple laid out its grievances about the proposed bill in a nine-page memo. In this he strongly opposes requirements such as backdoors for edge-to-edge encryption, reporting changes to security features of products before they are released, and forcing security features to be disabled before the appeal process.

The company said it wouldn’t make country-specific changes that would weaken security for all of its users, and instead threatens to disable iMessage and FaceTime for its UK users.

The proposed law is currently in an 8-week consultation period. Apparently, Apple and others are hoping the government will revise the bill in response to the criticism.

Apple previously pulled plans for its CSAM scanning feature for iCloud Photos after backlash from users and human rights groups. Apple’s solution was much more focused on user privacy than the one the UK government is now proposing.