Britons Want Their Messages Kept Private
New polling has found overwhelming support for keeping online conversations private, exposing widespread unease about government access to encrypted messages as Apple continues its legal battle over Britain’s surveillance powers.
The Poll
The research, published at the end of last month by the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT), found that 93 per cent of British adults believe they have a right to private conversations online. Some 89 per cent said nobody should be able to access their personal messages without a court order.
Public First surveyed 2,000 adults between 20 and 27 April 2026, weighting the results to reflect the population. CDT commissioned the research as part of its work campaigning for digital rights and strong encryption.
The results seem to suggest that concerns extend beyond whichever party holds office. For example, two-thirds said they would not trust the current or a future government with the power to access encrypted messages, with distrust shared by majorities of voters across the main political parties.
As Public First director Carly Munnelly put it in CDT’s announcement: “There are very few topics where we see the public this united.”
Why Encryption Matters
End-to-end encryption protects information so that only the intended participants, or the account holder’s authorised devices, can read it. A service provider can’t simply hand over readable copies of information it cannot decrypt.
For most people, that protection sits quietly behind ordinary activities, from discussing family problems to sharing sensitive documents. For businesses, the same principle helps protect confidential conversations with customers, colleagues and suppliers.
Government agencies argue that access to communications can be essential when investigating terrorism, child sexual abuse and other serious offences. The dispute, however, concerns whether companies should be required to make encrypted information accessible, and whether doing so creates weaknesses that others could exploit.
Professor Alan Woodward of the University of Surrey explained the everyday stakes, saying: “Encryption keeps our bank details, medical records and family conversations safe.”
Why Apple Is Central To The Debate
Those competing arguments have already affected services available in Britain. For example, back in February 2025, Apple stopped offering Advanced Data Protection to new UK users following reports that the government had demanded access to encrypted iCloud data.
The optional feature extends end-to-end encryption to categories including backups, photos and documents. Its withdrawal did not remove encryption from every Apple service, with iMessage and FaceTime remaining end-to-end encrypted.
The original demand reportedly covered users worldwide before being withdrawn. A subsequent notice focused on British users, and Apple filed a fresh legal challenge in July 2026.
Despite the publicity surrounding Apple’s dispute with the government, 55 per cent of those surveyed had not heard about the original demand for access to encrypted data, suggesting that concerns about message privacy were not confined to people already following the case.
What Powers Does The Government Have?
Under the Investigatory Powers Act, a Technical Capability Notice can require a company to maintain the ability to provide information when subsequently served with an appropriate warrant or authorisation. However, such notices require approval from a Judicial Commissioner, including scrutiny of necessity and proportionality.
This matters because several survey questions described access without users’ knowledge or prior court approval. Opposition to those scenarios should not be treated as evidence that respondents reject every targeted investigation conducted under legal safeguards.
However, secrecy seems to remain a central concern. Just 12 per cent supported allowing the government to issue secret orders requiring access to users’ information while preventing companies from telling the public. A third opposed that power altogether, while 41 per cent wanted disclosure or parliamentary oversight.
When Privacy Concerns Change Behaviour
Respondents were particularly worried about the wider consequences of making encrypted messages accessible. Some 84 per cent expressed concern that access without user knowledge or prior court approval could create vulnerabilities for hackers and criminals, while 82 per cent feared misuse of power.
The potential effects also reached beyond data security. Asked about access without prior court approval, 65 per cent said they would become more cautious about what they liked, shared or commented on, and 41 per cent said they would hold back from criticising public institutions or officials.
It should be noted here that these are predictions about behaviour, rather than evidence that such changes have happened. Even so, they suggest that perceived surveillance could affect how freely people communicate.
CDT policy counsel Tom Bowman said: “A remarkable number said they’d change how they express themselves online if law enforcement could silently read their private messages.”
What Does This Mean For Your Business?
For businesses, the findings highlight how closely privacy and trust are connected. Customers and employees may be less willing to share sensitive information if they are unsure who can read it, making clear explanations of how communications are protected valuable.
The practical starting point is understanding what existing services actually protect, including whether backups receive the same protection as messages and who holds the encryption keys. Encryption also needs support from secure devices, controlled access and sensible retention policies.
Businesses should be able to explain those arrangements in ordinary language. Confidence in confidentiality depends on protections that work and promises that accurately describe them.
