UK poll finds broad public concern over government access to encrypted messages

A new survey of UK adults has found strong support for private online communications and significant skepticism about giving governments access to encrypted messages.

The poll, commissioned by digital-rights organization the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) and conducted by Public First, surveyed 2,000 British adults in April. Results were weighted to reflect the broader population, with a reported margin of error of 2.2 percentage points.

According to the findings, 93 percent of respondents said people have a right to private online conversations. A further 89 percent said personal messages should not be accessed without a court order. About two-thirds said they would not trust either the current UK government or a future government with the ability to access encrypted communications.

Concerns cross party lines

Distrust of government access was reported among voters across major political parties. The survey found that majorities or near-majorities of respondents who voted Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Green, or Reform in the 2024 general election said they would not trust any government with such powers.

The research comes amid continuing debate over the UK Investigatory Powers Act and government notices that can require technology companies to provide technical assistance to authorities. Apple withdrew its Advanced Data Protection service for UK users after reports that it received a confidential Technical Capability Notice. Subsequent reporting indicated that the scope of government demands remained contested.

More than half of respondents said they had not previously heard about the reported notice involving Apple. Once informed of the concept, only 12 percent supported secret orders requiring companies to provide access to user information while preventing public disclosure. Thirty-three percent opposed that authority, while 41 percent favored stronger transparency requirements or parliamentary oversight.

Security and civil-liberties worries

• 53 percent said the security risks of access mechanisms outweighed potential law-enforcement benefits; 28 percent took the opposite view.
• 84 percent were concerned that measures to access encrypted messages could create vulnerabilities exploitable by criminals or hackers.
• 82 percent said such powers could be abused.
• 65 percent said awareness of monitoring could make them more cautious about online activity, while 41 percent said it could discourage criticism of public institutions or officials.

CDT supports strong encryption and commissioned the study as part of its advocacy work. The results nonetheless highlight the challenge for policymakers seeking exceptional access to encrypted services while maintaining public confidence in privacy, security, and oversight.