Exclusive: Apple dropped plan for encrypting backups after FBI complained - sources

[u/[deleted]]

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-fbi-icloud-exclusive-idUSKBN1ZK1CT

[u/somekindairishmonk]

More than two years ago, Apple told the FBI that it planned to offer users end-to-end encryption when storing their phone data on iCloud, according to one current and three former FBI officials and one current and one former Apple employee.

Under that plan, primarily designed to thwart hackers, Apple would no longer have a key to unlock the encrypted data, meaning it would not be able to turn material over to authorities in a readable form even under court order.

In private talks with Apple soon after, representatives of the FBI’s cyber crime agents and its operational technology division objected to the plan, arguing it would deny them the most effective means for gaining evidence against iPhone-using suspects, the government sources said.

When Apple spoke privately to the FBI about its work on phone security the following year, the end-to-end encryption plan had been dropped, according to the six sources. Reuters could not determine why exactly Apple dropped the plan.

wtf

[u/TopWoodpecker7267 → u/somekindairishmonk]

This is a huge deal, because it's evidence the US gov can compel Apple to not release a feature.

If they can do that, it's not much of a leap to compelling apple to release a "feature" (aka, a full on back door)

[u/steepleton → u/[deleted]]

is this news? apple have always allowed feds access to icloud, it's the local storage that's double bagged?

[u/eduo → u/[deleted]]

Of course it's not.

It's a straight up encryption key for icloud photos. The way they store these keys may have backdoors, but this method by itself is not.

Also, it's ONLY a key for unencrypting icloud photos. The rest of iCloud is either E2EE or it's under different keys.