U.S. Vice President JD Vance forced UK to drop demand for ‘back door access’ into iPhones

U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance
U.S. Vice President JD Vance compelled Sir Keir Starmer’s Government to abandon its request for “backdoor” access to users’ iPhone messages, according to reports. The vice president personally stepped in to prevent the Government from mandating that Apple disable its end-to-end encryption, which safeguards user privacy.
Connor Stringer for The Telegraph:
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Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, made the request to Apple earlier this year, claiming that it would help combat child abuse and terrorism.
The move would have allowed security services to access an iPhone owner’s photos and messages if they were suspected of a crime.
Privacy campaigners warned millions of people’s security could be jeopardised if end-to-end encryption was scrapped.
Mr Vance, who has become increasingly concerned about government overreach and censorship in Britain, raised the issue with senior British officials and pressured them to drop the plan, The Telegraph understands.
“The VP took a strong interest in this issue because of his background in technology, his concern for privacy, and his sincere commitment to maintain a strong US-UK relationship,” a US official said.
“The VP was in charge and was personally involved in negotiating a deal, including having direct conversations with the British government.”
“The VP negotiated a mutually beneficial understanding that the UK Government will withdraw the current back door order to Apple,” the US official added.

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MacDailyNews Note: U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Tuesday said the U.K. agreed to withdraw a request to access encrypted data from Apple’s U.S. users.
“Over the past few months, I’ve been working closely with our partners in the U.K., alongside [U.S. President Trump and Vice President JD Vance], to ensure Americans’ private data remains private and our Constitutional rights and civil liberties are protected,” Tulsi Gabbard said in a post on X. “As a result, the U.K. has agreed to drop its mandate for Apple to provide a ‘back door’ that would have enabled access to the protected encrypted data of American citizens and encroached on our civil liberties.”

Over the past few months, I’ve been working closely with our partners in the UK, alongside @POTUS and @VP, to ensure Americans' private data remains private and our Constitutional rights and civil liberties are protected.
As a result, the UK has agreed to drop its mandate for…
— DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) August 19, 2025

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