US Lawmakers Seek UK Briefing Over Apple Encryption Backdoor Order

Senior Republican lawmakers in the United States have formally requested a briefing from the British government over its previous order requiring Apple to create access to encrypted user data, reviving transatlantic tensions over privacy, security and government surveillance powers.

Jim Jordan, chair of the US House Judiciary Committee, and Brian Mast, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, wrote to British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood seeking clarification about a technical capability notice issued to Apple. The notice had required the company to enable access to encrypted communications under the UK’s Investigatory Powers framework.

The lawmakers said they wanted a detailed explanation of the British government’s actions in order to ensure what they described as a mature and informed public debate. They asked that officials from the Home Office and the UK Embassy in Washington arrange a formal briefing no later than March 11.

A technical capability notice is a legal instrument that can compel technology companies to assist UK authorities in accessing data for national security or law enforcement purposes. In Apple’s case, the order reportedly concerned the creation of a so called backdoor to encrypted services. Apple has consistently stated that it would never build such access into its devices or platforms, arguing that any deliberate vulnerability could be exploited by malicious actors.

The issue had previously drawn criticism in Washington. Jordan and Mast have argued that forcing companies to weaken encryption risks exposing sensitive user data to cyber criminals and potentially to hostile governments. They have also been vocal critics of what they see as excessive regulatory or enforcement actions against major US technology firms abroad.

The controversy appeared to ease last year when US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard indicated that Britain had dropped its demand. However, the latest letter suggests lawmakers are seeking clarity on what steps were taken and whether similar requests could resurface in the future.

Apple had challenged the order before the UK’s Investigatory Powers Tribunal, the specialist court that oversees complaints and disputes related to surveillance powers. The company maintains that strong encryption is essential to user trust and digital security worldwide.

The episode underscores ongoing friction between democratic allies over how to balance privacy rights with national security objectives. Governments argue that encrypted platforms can shield criminal and terrorist activity from detection, while technology companies and civil liberties groups warn that mandated access mechanisms undermine cybersecurity for all users.

With digital communications increasingly central to both economic activity and personal life, the debate over encryption policy continues to carry significant political and diplomatic weight. The requested briefing is likely to add further scrutiny to how Britain applies its surveillance laws to global technology firms operating within its jurisdiction.