Proposed amendments to existing laws could prevent the UK Home Office from releasing updates in other countries, withholding information from the public.
The government aims to revise the Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) 2016, balancing support for privacy-focused tech with the necessity to ensure national security.
However, it asserted that such advancements must not compromise public safety. The government's commitment to balancing privacy and security will be debated in the House of Lords.
The Home Office emphasized its backing for technological innovation and private, secure communication technologies, including end-to-end encryption.
The tech giant warned that if enacted, the UK government could globally prevent new user protections, jeopardizing privacy and security.
Apple expressed deep concern over the proposed IPA amendments, calling them an "unprecedented overreach."
The existing Investigatory Powers Act, criticized as a "snoopers charter," faces scrutiny with concerns about potential infringements on privacy and security.
The Home Office stressed the importance of decisions on lawful access being made by democratically accountable entities, approved by Parliament.
They expressed worry that the proposed changes could force technology companies to inform the government about security or privacy improvements, effectively turning private companies into extensions of the surveillance state.
Civil liberties groups, including Big Brother Watch, Liberty, Open Rights Group, and Privacy International, jointly opposed parts of the bill.