Two Delaware congressional leaders are demanding answers from the British government about a controversial directive that would have forced Apple to compromise its encryption security measures.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast sent a formal request Wednesday to British Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood, seeking a comprehensive briefing about the technical capability notice that was issued to Apple.
The directive, which Britain ultimately withdrew according to U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s August statement, would have required Apple to develop backdoor access to its encrypted user information.
Both congressional leaders had previously expressed concerns that such requirements could create vulnerabilities that cybercriminals and authoritarian regimes might exploit. They have also been vocal critics of Big Tech regulations imposed by European authorities.
In their Wednesday correspondence, which Reuters obtained, the lawmakers emphasized the need for transparency in the matter.
“For there to be a ‘mature and informed public debate,’ it is imperative that the Committees fully understand the actions taken by the UK government with respect to the TCN issued to Apple,” Jordan and Mast stated in their joint letter.
The representatives are requesting expedited scheduling for the briefing, writing: “We respectfully ask that the Home Office and UK Embassy to the United States arrange for the briefing to occur as soon as possible but no later than 10:00 a.m. ET on March 11, 2026.”
Apple had contested the British government’s technical capability notice through the UK’s Investigatory Powers Tribunal. The technology giant has consistently maintained its position against creating such access points, stating it would never incorporate backdoor capabilities into its encrypted products or services.
