Donald Trump forces Yvette Cooper into humiliating U-turn over 'alarming' threat to data

The UK government recently backed down from one of its most controversial tech proposals: forcing Apple to create a “backdoor” into iPhone users’ encrypted data. The plan was led by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who wanted the company to give authorities special access in the name of criminal investigations.

But the problem with backdoors is simple: if you build one, it’s not just governments who can use it. Cybercriminals, hostile states, and anyone with the right skills can eventually exploit it too. That’s why Apple flatly refused, and that’s also why the White House stepped in.

According to U.S. intelligence officials, Washington made it clear to London that undermining Apple’s encryption wouldn’t just affect British users it would directly compromise the privacy and security of Americans as well. Tulsi Gabbard, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, even said they reached a “mutually beneficial understanding” with the UK, which has now agreed to drop the demand.

Civil liberties groups had already been sounding the alarm for months. Amnesty International called the idea dangerous for activists, journalists, and critics of government authority. Human Rights Watch warned it would set a “global precedent” that other countries could exploit. Cybersecurity experts echoed these concerns, pointing out that weakening encryption makes everyone less safe, not more.

A UK official later admitted: “We can’t and we won’t force Apple to provide a back door for encrypted access.” That statement marks a big climbdown, but the issue isn’t going away anytime soon. Governments everywhere are trying to balance public safety with digital privacy, and the outcome will affect billions of people.

For now, the White House intervention means Apple users on both sides of the Atlantic can breathe a little easier. Strong encryption remains intact at least until the next fight.