JD Vance stopped the UK government from spying on your iPhone.
Britain gave Apple 2 choices:
Hand over global data access
Or pay $10M a day
Everyone said Apple couldn’t win.
So Vance went head-to-head with the UK himself—here’s how he crushed them: 🧵👇
Britain gave Apple 2 choices:
Hand over global data access
Or pay $10M a day
Everyone said Apple couldn’t win.
So Vance went head-to-head with the UK himself—here’s how he crushed them: 🧵👇
First, some context.
In early 2025, the UK government invoked its "Snooper's Charter."
This gave them power to force tech companies to break their own encryption.
Apple was their first target:
In early 2025, the UK government invoked its "Snooper's Charter."
This gave them power to force tech companies to break their own encryption.
Apple was their first target:
The demand was simple but devastating.
Create a backdoor into iCloud that would let the UK government access any user's data.
Not just UK citizens. All 1.5 billion Apple users worldwide.
The penalties for refusing were brutal:
Create a backdoor into iCloud that would let the UK government access any user's data.
Not just UK citizens. All 1.5 billion Apple users worldwide.
The penalties for refusing were brutal:
£10 million per day in fines.
2-year prison sentences for Apple executives.
Potential criminal prosecution under the Serious Crime Act.
Apple faced an impossible choice:
2-year prison sentences for Apple executives.
Potential criminal prosecution under the Serious Crime Act.
Apple faced an impossible choice:
Comply and betray every user's privacy.
Or refuse and face crippling penalties.
Tim Cook chose defiance: "We refuse to build a backdoor that would weaken security for every one of our customers worldwide."
But this wasn't just Apple's fight:
Or refuse and face crippling penalties.
Tim Cook chose defiance: "We refuse to build a backdoor that would weaken security for every one of our customers worldwide."
But this wasn't just Apple's fight:
WhatsApp, Google, Microsoft, Signal, and Telegram all opposed the order.
They knew the truth about backdoors.
Once created, they can't be controlled.
History had already proven this:
They knew the truth about backdoors.
Once created, they can't be controlled.
History had already proven this:
The NSA's Dual_EC_DRBG backdoor from 2013 was meant for government use only.
Hackers exploited it to spy on encrypted communications for years.
Every backdoor becomes a vulnerability.
20 million UK users lost encryption features when Apple pulled out:
Hackers exploited it to spy on encrypted communications for years.
Every backdoor becomes a vulnerability.
20 million UK users lost encryption features when Apple pulled out:
The situation was escalating fast.
The UK wouldn't back down. Apple wouldn't compromise.
That's when an unlikely figure entered the picture.
JD Vance wasn't who you'd expect:
The UK wouldn't back down. Apple wouldn't compromise.
That's when an unlikely figure entered the picture.
JD Vance wasn't who you'd expect:
Before politics, Vance worked at Peter Thiel's Mithril Capital.
He'd invested in Affirm, Devoted Health, and other tech companies.
He understood Silicon Valley from the inside.
Now as Trump's VP, he had real power:
He'd invested in Affirm, Devoted Health, and other tech companies.
He understood Silicon Valley from the inside.
Now as Trump's VP, he had real power:
Vance saw what most politicians missed.
This wasn't just about Apple or the UK.
If one democracy could force backdoors, others would follow.
American data would be exposed globally. He took personal charge:
This wasn't just about Apple or the UK.
If one democracy could force backdoors, others would follow.
American data would be exposed globally. He took personal charge:
"Vance was in charge and was personally involved in negotiating a deal," US officials confirmed.
He coordinated with Trump and DNI Tulsi Gabbard.
For months, he worked behind the scenes.
His message to Britain was direct:
He coordinated with Trump and DNI Tulsi Gabbard.
For months, he worked behind the scenes.
His message to Britain was direct:
America wouldn't tolerate its citizens' data being exposed.
Vance leveraged both technical arguments and diplomatic pressure.
He understood what breaking encryption really meant.
After months of tense negotiations, the UK made a shocking decision:
Vance leveraged both technical arguments and diplomatic pressure.
He understood what breaking encryption really meant.
After months of tense negotiations, the UK made a shocking decision:
They backed down completely in August 2025.
First time a Western democracy retreated from forcing a backdoor after US intervention.
Apple restored encryption. Users were protected.
But this victory means something bigger:
First time a Western democracy retreated from forcing a backdoor after US intervention.
Apple restored encryption. Users were protected.
But this victory means something bigger:
Thanks for reading!
If you found this post interesting, make sure to follow @Nas_tech_AI for more insights on AI and politics.
Your support means a lot.
If you found this post interesting, make sure to follow @Nas_tech_AI for more insights on AI and politics.
Your support means a lot.
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