For the sake of security, the UK government may have made the nation vulnerable to cybersecurity threats. Apple has raised concerns about the proposed changes to the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, stating that these changes pose a serious and direct threat to data security and information privacy. The company is deeply concerned about the amendments to the Investigatory Powers Bill, which could put user privacy and security at risk. These changes could also prevent the delivery of essential security and privacy updates to customers.
The Act is currently being debated in the UK House of Lords, and civil liberties groups worldwide have condemned these proposals.
The law, intended to enhance safety, may actually weaken the UK’s digital infrastructure, making it an attractive target for cyber attacks. Apple is particularly concerned about the erosion of encryption and the potential delay or absence of security and privacy updates without any transparency or scrutiny.
If the law is passed, every tech security update must be reviewed by UK authorities before release, leading to delays in distributing vital security patches. This delay would make the UK an appealing target for hackers, as they would exploit the weaknesses created by the delayed patches.
Apple first warned against these proposals in July 2023, stating that they would stifle innovation, commerce, and make the Home Office the global arbiter of data security and encryption levels. The proposed changes include giving the UK Home Office the power to disable encryption services, blocking security and privacy updates without public notification, and requiring tech firms to submit security changes for approval before launch. Additionally, the law would create new powers for blanket surveillance of internet activity, with less protection around the use and inspection of bulk data sets.
2024-02-04 01:00:03
Original from www.computerworld.com