Apple is taking the UK government to court over its demand to weaken encryption — a rare corporate stand against state surveillance. This isn't only about iCloud; it’s about whether any government can force tech companies to break security for everyone.

At the heart of this fight: the UK’s 2016 Investigatory Powers Act, aka the "Snooper’s Charter," which gives the government broad powers to demand access to encrypted data. The UK wants Apple to roll back its strongest security feature, iCloud Advanced Data Protection. Apple said no.

Instead of complying, Apple pulled its most secure backup service from the UK entirely. Now, the government is pushing back, arguing that Apple is legally required to provide access. And here’s the kicker—this demand might not stop at the UK’s borders.

If the UK wins, the precedent is set: governments everywhere will demand backdoors, killing encryption as we know it.