Security News > 2023 > June > Now Apple takes a bite out of encryption-bypassing 'spy clause' in UK internet law

Apple has joined the rapidly growing chorus of tech organizations calling on British lawmakers to revise the nation's Online Safety Bill - which for now is in the hands of the House of Lords - so that it safeguards strong end-to-end encryption.

"It also helps everyday citizens defend themselves from surveillance, identity theft, fraud, and data breaches. The Online Safety Bill poses a serious threat to this protection, and could put UK citizens at greater risk."

"Apple urges the government to amend the bill to protect strong end-to-end encryption for the benefit of all," the iGiant's statement on the internet bill continued.

In February, encrypted chat service Signal said it will stop operating in the UK if the British government goes ahead with its Online Safety Bill as it stands.

In April, other E2EE comms platforms Element, Session, Threema, Viber, WhatsApp, and Wire urged UK lawmakers to rethink the bill instead of "Weakening encryption, undermining privacy, and introducing the mass surveillance of people's private communications."

Wikipedia has called out another piece of the proposal that would require verification of visitors' ages, and said if the Online Safety Bill passes with the age-gating requirement, its site may no longer be available in the UK. The controversial draft law, which the government claims will make the UK "The safest place in the world to be online," continues to face backlash because of its so-called "Spy clause" [PDF].

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2023/06/29/apple_online_safety_bill_opposition/