Gabbard: UK demand to Apple for backdoor access is 'grave concern' to US

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard informed U.S. lawmakers that she ordered a legal review of the U.K.’s secret directive to Apple for a backdoor enabling access to Americans’ encrypted data, following reports that prompted Apple to pull its premier data protection tool from the British market. In response to concerns from Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Andy Biggs, Gabbard warned of privacy and security implications, noted that the U.S.-U.K. Cloud Act Agreement appears applicable, and said she is seeking input from U.S. agencies before engaging the British government, with potential repercussions for intelligence and cybersecurity partnerships if the order stands.