LABOUR’S demand for Apple to grant authorities access to encrypted cloud data poses a serious threat to the privacy rights of users worldwide, human rights groups have warned.

The Washington Post reported that the secret order was issued by the Home Office in January.

It concerns Advanced Data Protection, an iPhone setting which uses end-to-end encryption on cloud-stored data to ensure only users can access it.

Authorities are reportedly forcing Apple to grant access, including for device back-ups that can include contact lists, location and messaging history, for any Apple user worldwide.

Sources familiar with the matter told Washington Post that Labour issued the order under the Investigatory Powers Act of 2016, which allows the government to order firms to remove the  “electronic protection” of user data. 

Provisions in the law make it illegal for companies to comment, acknowledge and thereby reveal the demand. 

Amnesty Tech’s senior research adviser Joshua Franco said: “Governments have more and more powerful legal and technical tools at their disposal, and research shows that they are using them to target people for protesting, speaking out, or even just because of what they represent.

“Strong encryption is one of the few protections we have against such attacks and states should be encouraging companies to provide greater protections of our data and our rights, not seeking back doors that will leave people around the world at risk.” 

Human Rights Watch’s senior surveillance researcher Zach Campbell said: “If these reports are true, this is an alarming overreach by the UK authorities seeking to access the private data of not only people in the UK, but anyone worldwide with an Apple account.

“People rely on secure and confidential communications to exercise their rights.”

Apple and the Home Office have been contacted for comment.