JD Vance played a key role in getting the United Kingdom to drop its demand for Apple to create a “backdoor” into user data.
The UK had ordered Apple in January 2025 to weaken its encryption system so British authorities could access encrypted files from users around the world. This move raised serious concerns about privacy rights for American citizens.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced on Monday that the UK had agreed to withdraw its controversial order. She said she worked with President Donald Trump and Vance over several months to protect Americans’ private data and civil liberties. The agreement ensures that encrypted data belonging to US citizens stays protected from foreign government access.
According to a US official who spoke to Fox News Digital, Vance “was in charge and was personally involved in negotiating a deal, including having direct conversations with the British government.” The vice president worked with UK partners to create what the official called a “mutually beneficial understanding” that led to Britain withdrawing its backdoor order to Apple.
Vance’s technology background influenced his involvement
The US official said Vance took a strong interest in this issue because of his background in technology and his concern for privacy. The vice president also wanted to maintain a strong relationship between the US and UK while protecting American rights. His previous business dealings have shown his involvement in various technology investments.
Vice President JD Vance "directly" convinced the UK to drop its demand for Apple backdoor data access.
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 20, 2025
A U.S. official championed the move as a major digital privacy victory, as the Trump administration defends Americans' rights abroad. pic.twitter.com/BVNULQPHky
The UK’s original demand came through a technical capability notice issued under the 2016 Investigatory Powers Act, also known as the “Snoopers’ Charter.” This law allows British authorities to require companies to remove encryption without needing approval from a judge. Apple was reportedly banned from discussing the order publicly and faced criminal penalties for confirming its existence.
The backdoor order would have required Apple to provide blanket access to encrypted customer files worldwide. Privacy experts warned this could create security vulnerabilities that criminals and hostile governments could exploit. Apple responded by disabling its Advanced Data Protection feature for UK users and challenging the order in court. Vance has faced various controversies throughout his political career, but this privacy issue brought bipartisan support.
Senators from both parties had written to Gabbard earlier this year expressing concern about the UK demand. They warned it could violate Americans’ privacy and civil liberties while creating serious cybersecurity risks. The lawmakers argued that if Apple built a backdoor for the UK, it could end up affecting Americans’ phones, tablets, and computers, making everyone’s data less secure.
