Apple to appeal against UK government data demand at secret high court hearing

The Home Office wants to access Apple’s users’ encrypted data in the event of a national security risk, but the tech company has said it would make data vulnerable to bad actors. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

Apple’s appeal against a UK government demand to access its customers’ highly encrypted data will be the subject of a secret high court hearing, the Guardian understands.

The appeal on Friday will be considered by the investigatory powers tribunal, an independent court that has the power to investigate claims that the UK intelligence services have acted unlawfully.