A new bill being pushed in Canada could allow Apple to take similar drastic steps in the country as it did in the UK, including removing key privacy features such as Advanced Data Protection. When faced with government requests to reserve "backdoors" for encryption systems, Apple has always made its position clear: it will not weaken encryption security for any government. As early as after the San Bernardino shooting, Apple publicly stated that there is no backdoor that can only be used by "good guys". Once opened, it will eventually be used by law enforcement agencies and malicious attackers.
Canadian lawmakers believe law enforcement should be able to legally access encrypted data, which is why Bill C-22 exists. But according to Reuters, Apple and Meta have raised strong objections to the bill. Apple said in a statement that at a time when the threat of malicious actors trying to obtain user information is growing, Bill C-22, as currently worded, will weaken its ability to provide the strong privacy and security features that users expect in its devices and services. Apple warned that the legislation could allow the Canadian government to force companies to build encryption backdoors into their products, something Apple would "never do." Meta was equally strident, arguing that the bill could force service providers to install government spyware directly into their systems.
If the bill is ultimately passed, Apple is expected to take all possible measures without breaking encryption or sacrificing user privacy and overall security. This may mean that Apple will withdraw features such as "Advanced Data Protection" that rely on end-to-end encryption from the Canadian market, as it did in the UK. In the UK, facing pressure from the government to mandate the installation of encryption backdoors, Apple chose to turn off some data protection features rather than compromise the bottom line of encryption.
At the heart of the controversy is the idea that once Apple devises a special channel for Canada to access encrypted iPhone data, such "master keys" are almost certain to be leaked within technology and intelligence circles. Once leaked, it would become a powerful tool not only for law enforcement agencies around the world, but also for hackers and criminal gangs to compromise devices. For Apple, the best security system is one with no backdoors, secret access codes or hidden entrances.
Currently, a large number of services and data on iPhone are stored in an end-to-end encrypted manner, and even Apple itself cannot directly access it. By default, Apple devices encrypt health data, iCloud Keychain, Wi‑Fi and cellular credentials, home data, payment information, Siri messages, and iMessage and FaceTime communications. Even when the government makes a legitimate information request, the data is usually not provided by Apple, with the only exception being that an encryption key for iMessage is stored in an iCloud backup.
For those users who want to further improve their privacy protection, Apple has launched an "Advanced Data Protection" feature that extends end-to-end encryption to more content, including device backup, information backup, iCloud drives, notes, photos, reminders, Safari bookmarks, voice memos, wallet credentials, etc. Once this function is enabled, if the user loses access to the account and does not reserve any retrieval method, the relevant data will not be recovered.
If Canada passes this bill and attempts to pressure Apple to install a backdoor in its system, Apple is likely to cancel features such as "Advanced Data Protection" as a hedge. This is logically seen as a "one step back" compromise: Apple keeps core encryption principles intact, and the government loses some access to data. However, the article pointed out that even so, such adjustments may not meet the government’s expectations for more extensive monitoring and evidence collection.
The UK ultimately chose to back down on the encryption backdoor issue and did not implement similar enforcement measures. But what Canada will do next remains difficult to predict. The author pointed out that if the government pressure further escalates, Apple will not even rule out taking more extreme measures such as suspending related business in Canada, although before that, it has a variety of other strategies to choose from.
For a long time, Apple's attitude towards user privacy and security has often been questioned as "marketing rhetoric," but judging from actual actions, this stance has withstood the test of time. While many technology companies are actively lowering message encryption standards or stalling on device security, Apple continues to introduce new protective measures and patches, such as fixing system vulnerabilities that were exploited by the FBI to access message notification content. This "moving forward" security strategy has made Apple a prominent and even "annoying" player in encryption controversies in its battles with agencies such as the FBI and now the Canadian government.