Apple Raps Proposed U.K. Investigatory Powers bill

Apple Inc. criticized the proposed UK Investigatory Powers bill, which would give authorities more power to oversee communications.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple gave an eight-page submission to the British Parliamentary Scrutiny Committee where the giant US tech firm said it fears the law would potentially weaken the security of citizens' personal data.

The UK government in November proposed the strengthening of its spying powers and surveillance laws to give it power for permanent interception on communications and remove encryptions on companies like Apple. The bill would let authorities know what websites people visit and it explicitly states that they can now hack computers to access communications.

"We believe it would be wrong to weaken security for hundreds of millions of law-abiding customers so that it will also be weaker for the very few who pose a threat," stated Apple in its submission as reported by The Guardian. "In this rapidly evolving cyber-threat environment, companies should remain free to implement strong encryption to protect customers"

Nasdaq wrote Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, and Twitter will also submit evidence against the UK bill. According to Apple, the UK government can already access unprecedented amount of data.

Apple fears that the vulnerability this bill would bring can be taken advantage by hackers and spies. This may also prompt other governments to follow suite and come up with their own new communications laws.

Apple said that giving the authorities backdoors and interception powers over communications would weaken the security technologies built into the company's products endangering its customers. The iPhone maker said, the information taken could not only land on the hands of the good guys, but may also be exploited by the bad guys.

Tech companies and Western governments have been battling over the years on the ability of officials to monitor communications. These tech companies have ramped up their encryption technology after Edward Snowden revealed the surveillance activities carried out by the National Security Agency. Meanwhile, officials said weakening the encryption is needed after the Paris and San Bernardino terror attacks.

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Apple Inc, UK investigatory, Proposed U.K. Investigatory Powers bill, oversee communications

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