Apple: Enhanced security and concerned FBI

Apple is about to change its data encryption policy. Indeed, the era when the authorities had a right of access to user files saved on their online storage space (iCloud) seems to be over soon. The new end-to-end encryption of content shared by users should close the door to this possibility. The American authorities and in particular the FBI share their concern about this new measure.

Indeed, the US Office shared, in a press release sent to the Washington artical, its concern about this measure which would greatly complicate its work. Terrorism, child pornography, cyber-attacks, drug or arms trafficking. Many were the examples mentioned by the American institution to illustrate the threats that this new measure would cause. For the FBI, as our world becomes fully digital, having legal access to content shared by users would be essential to prevent any major risk.

This feature, which is primarily intended to also limit the vulnerability of information contained in the cloud to potential hackers, should arrive in some countries next year. It will initially be operational in the United States from the end of the year.

Privacy VS Government Authorities

This decision, however, rejoices many users in favor of a greater right to private property. Indeed, this œbackdoor allowing authorities and surveillance agencies to easily consult, with a warrant, the content saved in the cloud, seemed, for some, to go against the very right to private property. A theory that seems reinforced by a recent report issued by the manufacturer at Apple. In the latter, Apple highlights that requests for access to user content have more than doubled in the space of two years. The American company also announced that it had transmitted certain private information and content to the authorities (mainly American and Brazilian) 3,980 times in the space of six months.

Other initiatives aimed at bolstering the privacy of Apple users also appear to be gaining momentum. Indeed, the American manufacturer recently shared its idea of ‹‹incorporating physical authentication keys, allowing users to have concrete control of certain files. Cyber attacks or phishing attempts would thus be largely limited.