Apple halted plans for iCloud encryption after talks with FBI

Apple has shelved plans to encrypt files in iCloud with end-to-end encryption after complaints from the FBI. Apple had plans to implement the encryption, but canceled it after talking to the police.

That’s what six sources involved tell Reuters. Apple does not yet offer the possibility to store a complete backup of an iPhone or iPad in iCloud, not even via an opt-in. Users also have no option to encrypt their backup separately. Apple halted the plans, which may have been under pressure from the FBI, the sources told Reuters. Two years ago, Apple informed the FBI that it wanted to add end-to-end encryption to phone backups. That would be mainly intended to prevent hacks of iCloud accounts. A year later, Apple is said to have discontinued the encryption plan.

Reuters could not confirm why that happened, or whether the FBI had direct influence on it. According to one of Reuters’ sources, “the legal department” made the decision. However, another source says the shutdown may have been because Apple feared other users would lose their data. With end-to-end encryption, Apple can no longer access an encrypted backup. When the decision was made not to introduce the encryption, about ten experts dropped out of the project, which was then codenamed Plesio and KeyDrop.

The news comes as Apple is in a legal battle with the US federal police. The FBI wants Apple to help unlock two iPhones. Apple says it doesn’t want to do that. The company said in a statement at the time that it had “gave the FBI all the data we had in our possession.” Apple may thus indicate an iCloud backup, which would therefore not be encrypted.