Apple is challenging that order from the UK government that demands access to encrypted iCloud files. The company has filed an appeal with the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, which will examine the legality of the UK’s notice to Apple. This tribunal could hear the case as early as this month. In response to the order, Apple halted its Advanced Data Protection service in the UK, which uses end-to-end encryption to secure backups, preventing unauthorized access, including from Apple itself. The UK government issued this order under the Investigatory Powers Act of 2016, but has not confirmed its existence, raising concerns for Apple users worldwide.
The Trump administration is planning to overhaul a forty-two point five billion dollar internet program initiated during the Biden era, which aimed to connect millions of rural Americans to high-speed internet. This change, led by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, is expected to favor satellite companies like Starlink, which controls about sixty-two percent of operational satellites. Experts suggest that satellite services may be cheaper for connecting hard-to-reach homes, although fiber optic networks are generally more reliable and faster. The current program, known as the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program, received bipartisan support in 2021 and aims to connect twenty-five million Americans, potentially creating three hundred eighty thousand new jobs and fueling over three trillion dollars in economic growth. The move could face significant pushback from states and Congress, as many have invested in fiber networks and were anticipating billions in federal funding. Critics argue that changing the program could undermine years of planning and investment by states like Louisiana, which expected to receive over one billion dollars under the Biden initiative.
Broadly, Big Tech companies have largely maintained silence regarding President Donald Trump’s tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China, which are currently in effect. Despite previous outreach by The Verge and a recent follow-up, most companies have chosen not to comment. Some notable responses include Walmart, which emphasized its commitment to keeping prices low, and the CEOs of Best Buy and Target, who stated that prices in their stores are set to rise. Notably, major companies such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple have not provided comments on the issue. With tariffs potentially affecting future product launches, customers may face higher prices for items.
Why do we care?
We were waiting for the lawsuit, and now it’s here. It’s a step – and now it’s been crossed. And now we wait.
While Starlink and satellite alternatives present quick deployment advantages, issues related to latency, bandwidth reliability, and geographic capacity constraints may limit the real-world effectiveness. We care because the market has not addressed these rural needs, and to open up these markets, we need impartial, ROI based investments free of conflict of interest. Ask yourself – do we have that?
Increasing tech costs driven by tariffs might lead to friction with customers. MSPs should anticipate conversations around price increases, helping customers understand trade dynamics, alternative sourcing strategies, and budgeting realistically for higher tech costs. And be aware, most of your vendors will not be weighing in on your, or your customers, behalf.
