Home Office loses battle to keep Apple data privacy case a secret

The government yesterday lost an attempt to keep details of a legal fight with Apple away from the public.

- Dan Milmo

The investigatory powers tribunal, which examines whether the intelligence services have acted unlawfully, rejected efforts by the Home Office to withhold the "bare details" of the case.

A judgment from Lord Justice Singh, the president of the tribunal, and Mr Justice Johnson, revealed the case related to a legal challenge brought against the Home Office by Apple over the power to make technical capability notices under the Investigatory Powers Act.

According to the judgment, the Home Office argued that revealing the existence of the claim, as well as the names of the parties involved, would damage national security.