WhatsApp is refused right to intervene in Apple legal action on encryption ‘backdoors’

hanohiki – stock.adobe.com Investigatory Powers Tribunal to hear arguments in public over lawfulness of secret UK order requiring Apple to give UK law enforcement access to users’ encrypted data stored on the Apple iCloud By Bill Goodwin, Investigations Editor Published: 23 Jul 2025 20:25 A court is to hear legal challenges against a secret order issued by the Home Office requiring Apple to give British law enforcement and intelligence agencies the ability to access its users’ encrypted data stored on the iCloud in a public hearing in 2026. The Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) ruled today that it would hear five legal challenges brought by Apple, Privacy International, Liberty and two individuals, in open court over seven days early next year. The court however, refused to allow the encrypted messaging service, WhatsApp the right to intervene in the case brought by the NGOs. Apple is bringing its own case which will be considered at the same time. WhatsApp’s CEO Will Cathcart submitted evidence to the tribunal in June, raising concerns that the move by the UK government would undermine the security of people using encrypted communication and cloud services. He said that the technical capability notice (TCN), would set a “dangerous
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