FBI warns: Apple encryption complicates criminal investigations

The FBI has issued a warning about end-to-end encryption on Apple devices, saying that while it protects the privacy of millions of users, it also creates a "dark space" where criminals could operate undetected.

The agency notes that the inability to access encrypted data in iCloud, even under a court order, hampers criminal investigations and could jeopardize public safety.

Concerns intensified following the UK's Technical Capability Notice, which requires Apple to allow access to encrypted iCloud backups.

Although presented as a local measure, experts warn that its reach could be global, affecting millions of users outside of Britain.

Apple, for its part, defends Advanced Data Protection, its end-to-end encryption system that even the company itself cannot unlock. For the FBI, this policy represents a barrier to complying with court orders.

The debate is not limited to the US and the UK. Countries such as Australia, France, India, Brazil, and the European Union are already discussing similar regulations.

The FBI warns that if any of these governments force the opening of "back doors" in encryption, it could trigger a domino effect that compromises digital privacy on a global scale.

According to documents revealed by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT), the British request goes beyond optional encryption: it seeks mass access to the standard iCloud, used by most customers.

This has raised alarm bells in Washington, where figures such as Tulsi Gabbard and JD Vance have pushed for London to respect US data sovereignty.

The tension escalated into the biggest debate over encryption and surveillance in nearly a decade.

The dilemma is clear:

• Absolute encryption protects users from hacking and mass surveillance.
• Legally accessible encryption would allow authorities to take action against serious crimes, but it would put global privacy at risk.

The future of digital privacy will depend on how Apple, governments, and international organizations balance these interests.

The Apple-FBI-UK case could define the global model of digital privacy for the next decade. What today seems like a technical debate is, in reality, a decision that will mark the line between public security and individual rights.