By KELVIN CHAN, Associated Press Business WriterLONDON (AP) — Britain abandoned its demand that Apple provide so-called backdoor access to any encrypted user data stored in the cloud, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Monday. “As a result, the UK agreed to drop its mandate for Apple to provide a ‘back door’ that would have enabled access to the protected encrypted data of American citizens and encroached on our civil liberties,” she said. Apple challenged the order, which raised fears of electronic spying by national security officials. “We will always take all actions necessary at the domestic level to keep UK citizens safe.”Gabbard previously said a demand for backdoor access would violate the rights of Americans and raise concerns about a foreign government pressuring a U.S.-based technology company. The opt-in feature protects iCloud files, photos, notes and other data with end-to-end encryption when they are stored in the cloud.
