Apple says it will stop offering an advanced data security option for British users after the government reportedly demanded that the company provide backdoor access for any data those users have stored in the cloud.

In a dispute over a "backdoor" demand from the British government, Apple has decided to pull its advanced data protection from the British market. The security feature encrypts iCloud data with end-to-end protection.

Apple is taking the unprecedented step of removing its highest level data security tool from customers in the UK, after the government demanded access to user data. Advanced Data Protection (ADP) means only account holders can view items such as photos or documents they have stored online through a process known as end-to-end encryption.