Apple Encryption and the UK Government the next move.

The UK Governement wanted privacy for their courhearing with Apple – ironic as they want to reduce our privacy as part of this case:

Privacy hearing in Private | Smart Thinking Solutions

However a judge disagreed with the Home Office that national security would be damaged by facts revealed in the case and supported the legal principles of open justice. The article below is worth reading for the Judge’s comments and the implications of the Home Office’s moves on civil liberties.

Apple’s encryption row with UK should not be secret, court rules – BBC News

The Home Office had no comment on the ruling.

So the story continues…

Just one more thing…

Talking of privacy – I am writing this in a hotel lobby, whilst waiting for a client to arrive for a meeting. I have to use their wifi as I have no 5G signal and so I am using my VPN service attached to London based servers. VPNs are an essential part of Smart Thinking’s cyber security plan, let me explain that here:

Let’s Talk About Your VPN

However the BBC, one of the organisations that objected to the UK Government holding hearings about privacy in private, will not let me look at the .co.uk versions of their News website but force me onto their advert supported .com site, because I am using a VPN for privacy. Now I understand because of the unique way the BBC is funded that VPNs may be an issue for them when trying to access iPlayer or Sounds, but the news pages!

Here is the .com page.

Apple-UK data privacy row should not be secret, court rules

To access a .co.uk URL to add to this article I have to close down my VPN.

Privacy is the first step to good cyber security and any moves large or small that compromise that privacy, compromises cyber security.

Smart Thinking Solutions supports this UK Government initiative:

Let’s stop abuse together – Stop Abuse Together (campaign.gov.uk)

Further Reading

Apple, The UK Government, UK Apple users and Encryption | Smart Thinking Solutions

Backdoors into encrypted apps | Smart Thinking Solutions

Photo by Noelle Otto