Recently, Apple announced the implementation of a long-anticipated feature: users can activate end-to-end encryption with iCloud. Apple has a reputation for device privacy and security (iMessage is far more secure than SMS). However, these efforts often become ineffective because iPhones back up all of their secured data on iCloud, where Apple can access them. Now, users who turn on “Advanced Data Protection” can keep their encryption keys on the device, meaning even Apple can’t access your data. Advanced-Data Protection also means that people can’t get their data from Apple, even if Apple is forced to comply. The new technology means that people’s privacy is now far more secure. The FBI replied to this feature, arguing against the action favoring lawful access. The government is asking companies to ensure the American people have less secure devices.
This is a pattern that has persisted throughout administrations and across the world. Apple was going to implement the feature much earlier—but the Department of Justice (DOJ), under Attorney General Barr, said Apple was helping criminals, with many senators—famously Lindsey Graham—threatening laws to force Apple not to encrypt the data. The Obama Administration signed the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act into law, despite publicly opposing a version of it and promising a veto. The law was later passed by Congress in a budget bill and signed into law. This allows greater information sharing by private companies to the government. Legal threats to encryption have existed persistently since the U.S. Patriot Act. Encryption isn’t only for those who need to hide from the government, it’s for anyone who wants privacy. Encryption helps to secure devices from hackers, snoopy friends or relatives, and mega-corporations. The messaging app “Signal” is often used by journalists, activists, and people who like the convenience of encrypted wifi texting.
Apple is notorious for annoying the U.S. government with its attempts to protect user privacy. Apple publicly refused to make a backdoor to encrypted iPhones when the FBI asked for one, and iPhones share much less information than other smartphones do. For example, Siri, Apple Maps, and other Apple technologies send less data to Apple and do more local processing than their Google-owned counterparts. Despite the massive amount of government spying, the Biden Administration has been one of the best administrations this century in cutting down on government spies For example, the Biden Administration stopped the FBI from buying Pegasus, an intelligence spying software for smartphones, from the company NSO Group. The Administration then sanctioned the company that made it and Russian companies that made similar software.
However, Congress must do more to protect citizens’ privacy. At the very least, companies and organizations should ignore the requests of the DOJ and continue to encrypt data. The European Union and California have passed laws protecting people’s privacy. There needs to be a U.S. law that will protect us from being spied on by both companies and the government. As the fight for privacy continues, it is essential to use encryption and other security measures to protect your data. If you use iCloud, go to your settings and turn on Advanced Data Protection. If you have an Android, make sure to use a backup service that end-to-end encrypts your data, of which there are many.