Last week, Unplugged’s founder, Erik Prince, took the stage at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) conference in London, discussing AI’s role in surveillance capitalism and the need for technology that serves individuals—not governments or corporations. His message couldn’t have been more timely.
Melissa Chen interviewing Erik Prince at Alliance for Responsible Citizenship
With ironic timing, days later, Apple confirmed it would be disabling its most advanced iCloud encryption for users in the United Kingdom, responding to mounting pressure from government authorities demanding backdoor access to private data.
This decision forces us to confront a crucial question: if a multi-trillion-dollar company cannot or will not stand firm against government pressure, what does that mean for the future of digital privacy? And more importantly, what does it mean for you?
Governments Are Pushing for More Access—At Your Expense
Apple’s Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature provided end-to-end encryption, ensuring that only users could access their cloud backups. That kind of security is rare in today’s data-driven world, and it was a major step toward giving people control over their own digital lives. But with UK authorities demanding a backdoor, Apple was left with two choices: 1) Compromise encryption for everyone or; 2) Disable the feature for UK users altogether. Apple chose the latter, a move that protects its global user base and retains the feature for everyone else but leaves UK citizens exposed.
As, unsettling as this is, the bigger issue is what this decision signals to other governments. The UK has successfully pressured Apple into compliance—who will be next?
Sweden Too?
Sweden has a similar legislative action cooking. A bill is making its way through the legislative process in Sweden to require a backdoor in encrypted messaging apps. Signal’s President, Meredith Whittaker said if Sweden does this, Signal will leave Sweden.
In clown world fashion, the Swedish military recently started using Signal to protect their own communications. The left hand knows not what the right hand doeth.
Sweden has its own back door proposal in addition to EU’s Chat Control 2.0 and Going Dark. Signal’s president @mer__edith is clear as always: if you mandate back doors (i.e., vulnerabilities): no more Signal for you. https://t.co/PmBZHtpeOi#Signal #E2EE
— Karl Emil Nikka (@KarlEmilNikka) February 25, 2025
Whittaker calls out the last year's giant Salt Typhoon cyberattack perpetrated by Chinese State actors to emphasize the risks. Removing end-to-end encryption technology blows open the door to major vulnerabilities. Whittaker and her team deserve massive respect for standing their ground.
If a major government can force a company, like Apple, to weaken security in one place, it sets a dangerous precedent for the rest of the world. In fact, the U.K. government’s decision is in many ways unsettled and not limited to their territory, as the U.K. asserts the law gives them authority to demand a backdoor of Apple’s cloud storage into any user’s account anywhere in the world. The battle for your data isn’t happening in boardrooms—it’s unfolding in government offices, through political pressure and legal maneuvers.
The Problem with “Trusting” Big Tech
For years, Apple has positioned itself as the privacy-conscious alternative to other tech giants. And to some extent, it has resisted government overreach. But this latest move reveals an unavoidable reality: Big Tech will always prioritize business interests over your privacy.
Apple’s resistance to the UK’s demands is notable, but at the end of the day, its business model still relies on centralized control over user data. The fact that encryption for an entire country can be switched off at a moment’s notice demonstrates how little control users actually have. If Apple can make this decision for UK customers today, what’s stopping another company—or another country—from making it for you tomorrow
At Unplugged, we believe in true digital sovereignty. That means encryption that isn’t subject to external corporate or political pressure. It means no backdoors, no AD-ID tracking, and constantly working to find and counter any hidden vulnerabilities. It means a phone that works for you, not for data-hungry corporations or governments seeking greater surveillance powers.
The Future of Privacy is in Your Hands
Apple’s decision in the UK is just the latest development in an ongoing battle over privacy. Governments are pushing harder for access, and tech companies—despite their assurances—are making compromises. But you don’t have to.
If you care about real security, it’s time to take control. The UP Phone is built for people who refuse to let their privacy be dictated by outside forces. Because in the end, the only way to ensure that your data stays yours is to use technology that’s built with that mission in mind.
Privacy isn’t a luxury. It’s your right. The question is: how much of it are you willing to give up?
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