The case of Apple’s encryption data row begins secretly

The case of Apple encrypted data against the United Kingdom government has secretly begun in the royal courts of justice.

The Ministry of Interior has demanded the right to access the data of Apple users who have lit the protection of advanced data (ADP), a tool that prevents any other person other than the user, including the technological giant, to read their files.

Apple says it is important for privacy, but the United Kingdom government says it needs to access data if there is a risk of national security.

The BBC, together with civil liberties groups and some US politicians, argue that the case must be heard in public.

But the Friday session of the Investigation Powers Court, which listens to the matter, was held behind closed doors.

It is not clear if the subsequent phases of the case will open to the public: the BBC has presented a written argument that it should be.

In addition to the BBC, the journalists of The Guardian, The Telegraph, PA, Bloomberg and Computer Weekly attended the royal courts of justice, but were not admitted in the courtroom.

Sir James Eadie Kc, who previously represented the government in significant cases such as the appeal of citizenship of Shamima Begum, was seen entering the audience.

Thursday, Five US politicians of the entire political division urged the Court To eliminate what they call the “layer of secret” surrounding the row, which they say has important security implications.

A group of civil liberties groups made a similar plea, saying that except the media would be a “affront to the global privacy and security problems that are being discussed.”

The case is to balance national security against privacy rights.

ADP is encrypted from end to extreme, which means that no one can access files that have secured apart from its owner.

Other end -to -end services in the United Kingdom include Signal, Meta WhatsApp and Apple’s IMessage.

In February, it arose that the United Kingdom government was looking for the right to access protected data in this way using powers granted under the Law of Investigation Powers.

The law allows companies to provide information to the law enforcement agencies.

Apple responded by taking ADP in the United Kingdom and then launching legal actions to challenge government demand.

Apple says that accepting what the United Kingdom requests it would require the creation of a so -called rear door, that critics of the capacity say that they would eventually be exploited by computer pirates.

“As we have said many times before, we have never built a back door or a master key for any of our products or services and we will never do it.” Apple says on its website.

The Interior Ministry previously told the BBC: “The United Kingdom has a long position to protect our citizens from the worst crimes, such as sexual abuse and child terrorism, while protecting people’s privacy.

“The United Kingdom has solid safeguards and independent supervision to protect privacy and privacy is only affected exceptionally, in relation to the most serious crimes and only when it is necessary and proportional to do so.”