The news: The UK’s Home Office ordered Apple to create a technical back door granting officials unrestricted access to encrypted iCloud data, including photos, messages, and documents on customer’s iPhones, iPads, and Macs, per The Washington Post.

It’s the first instance of a major democracy mandating blanket surveillance capability rather than targeting specific accounts, potentially setting a legal precedent for state surveillance in democratic nations. 

Privacy focus under fire: Apple built its brand around privacy. Acquiescing to the UK risks damaging its reputation, but failing to comply could result in fines or bans.