Senator Wyden vs. UK & US Surveillance Backdoors — And Nobody Cares

TL;DR: Senator Ron Wyden demanded answers on whether U.S. companies like Apple and Google have been forced by UK law to disable encryption. Apple confirmed compliance with a UK Technical Capability Notice. Google initially refused to comment before denying any such orders. Meta also says no. And most people still don’t care.

What Went Down

• In March 2025, bipartisan U.S. lawmakers called on the UK tribunal to reveal details about secret surveillance orders known as Technical Capability Notices.
• Apple confirmed that it received such a notice under the UK’s Investigatory Powers Act and disabled its Advanced Data Protection feature for iCloud in the UK—even while challenging the order in court.
• Google initially refused to confirm whether it’d received anything—and later claimed it had not received any technical capability notice or built any backdoor.
• Meta likewise says it hasn’t received any orders. Wyden warns: UK surveillance orders threaten U.S. privacy globally … yet public outrage remains radio silence.

What It Really Means

1. UK laws have global impact. Apple bent—and your encrypted data anywhere may now be vulnerable.
2. Tech giants still answer to secret gagged orders. The public doesn’t even know this stuff happens.
3. Failure of transparency. Companies can’t disclose compliance; lawmakers urge action, but websites stay quiet.
4. We treat encryption as a checkbox—not an inviolable right. People yawn while their rights evaporate.

Why We Don’t Care

• Encryption gets buried under crypto scams and AI bullshit.
• Tech journalism calls it legal nuance; users nod off.
• We assume big tech fights for us—but they fight for profit and silence.

What Should Happen

• Public hearings revealing TCN rulings.
• Investigations into cross-border data control.
• Boycott or pressure campaigns on compromised platforms.
• A real debate on whether encryption is even worth defending anymore.

Instead—Apple gets token praise, Google gets acquitted by default, and the public contentedly clicks.

Final TL;DR

• Apple complied with UK surveillance backdoors.
• Google and Meta say they didn’t—no proof.
• Wyden demands transparency.
• Public reaction? Crickets.

Wake the fuck up.

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Posted by someone who remembers the Crypto Wars—and isn’t fooled.