By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS, Feb 25 (Reuters) - U.S. House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan and Foreign Affairs Chair Brian Mast on Wednesday asked the British government to brief them on its order to Apple to
US Lawmakers Seek UK Briefing on Apple 'Backdoor' Encryption Order
By Foo Yun Chee
Who requested the UK briefing?
UK Apple Backdoor Order and U.S. Oversight Response
BRUSSELS, Feb 25 (Reuters) - U.S. House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan and Foreign Affairs Chair Brian Mast on Wednesday asked the British government to brief them on its order to Apple to create a back door to its encrypted user data so they could better understand the British move.
The two lawmakers last year warned that such an order could allow encrypted user data to be exploited by cyber criminals and authoritarian governments. Britain subsequently dropped its demand, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said in August.
Brexit note: Britain left the EU in 2020
EU context and transparency concerns
Jordan and Mast, who have previously criticised European Union actions against Big Tech, said the public should be informed of the facts of the case. Britain left the EU in 2020.
Lawmakers’ stated rationale
Public transparency and debate
"For there to be a 'mature and informed public debate,' it is imperative that the Committees fully understand the actions taken by the UK government with respect to the TCN issued to Apple," they wrote in a joint letter dated Wednesday to British interior minister Shabana Mahmood, seen by Reuters.
Briefing deadline and timing
"We respectfully ask that the Home Office and UK Embassy to the United States arrange for the briefing to occur as soon as possible but no later than 10:00 a.m. ET on March 11, 2026," they said.
What is a Technical Capability Notice (TCN)?
TCN refers to a technical capability notice issued by the British government to Apple.
Proceedings at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal
Apple’s stance and legal challenge
Apple, which has said it would never build such access into its encrypted services or devices, had challenged the order at the UK's Investigatory Powers Tribunal.
(Reporting by Foo Yun CheeEditing by Rod Nickel)
