Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the decision by Apple to withdraw its advanced data protection system in the UK on cybersecurity risks to (a) businesses, (b) journalists and (c) other people.

The Home Office does not comment on operational matters, including for example confirming or denying the existence of any notices. This has been the longstanding position of successive UK Governments for reasons of national security.

The UK has a longstanding position of protecting people’s privacy whilst also ensuring action can be taken against child sexual abusers and terrorists.