Google says UK government has not demanded an encryption backdoor for its users’ data

The UK government appears to be retracting its earlier request for Apple to create a covert backdoor that would grant authorities access to customer data on a global scale, following a stern response from the U.S. government. However, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden is now probing whether other tech firms, including Google, have faced similar covert demands from the UK authorities. In response to inquiries from Wyden, Google has stated it has not received any backdoor requests, marking a significant confirmation regarding its position on the matter. Earlier reports indicated that the UK Home Office sought a secret court order compelling Apple to provide access to end-to-end encrypted cloud data, which includes backups from iPhones and iPads. Apple’s encryption is designed to ensure that only users, not even Apple itself, can access their personal data. Under UK law, tech companies like Apple that are subjected to such secret court orders are legally restricted from disclosing the existence or specifics of these demands. Critics of the proposed order labeled it as “draconian,” warning of severe implications for user privacy worldwide. In light of this, Apple has contested the legality of the order. In a recent correspondence with U.S. intelligence officials, Senator Wyden noted that while tech companies cannot reveal whether they have received UK orders, Google has at least confirmed it has not. Meta, which utilizes end-to-end encryption for its messaging platforms, similarly informed Wyden's office that it has not been subjected to any such orders. Google spokesperson Karl Ryan reiterated to TechCrunch that the company has never constructed a mechanism or backdoor intended to bypass end-to-end encryption. He emphasized that if Google claims a product is encrypted, it is indeed so. When pressed for clarity, Ryan confirmed that Google has not received any technical capabilities notice related to UK surveillance. Wyden's letter, initially disclosed by The Washington Post and later shared with TechCrunch, urged intelligence officials to publicly disclose their assessment of the national security risks posed by the UK's surveillance measures and their secret demands on U.S. companies.