Digest: Court Rejects UK Gov’s Request for Secret Hearing in Apple Data Case; Spotify Unveils New Ad Tools

Today’s digest looks at a court rejection of the UK Government’s petition to keep its Apple backdoor data demand secret, Spotify’s new ad tools and the White House’s direction for federal agencies to appoint AI leaders and develop strategies.

UK Court Rejects Government’s Petition for Secret Hearing in Apple Encrypted Data Case

London's Investigatory Powers Tribunal has rejected the UK government's request to keep secret the court hearings of its surveillance order issued to Apple. The decision marks the first public acknowledgment of the case, which centres on the government’s request for access into Apple’s encrypted systems.

The Washington Post published leaked details in February, revealing that the UK had demanded that Apple disable its Advanced Data Protection feature for users in the country. The feature allows end-to-end encryption of users’ data on iCloud, ensuring only the user has access. Despite government objections, the tribunal ruled that elements of the case will be heard in public, stating that disclosure of the “bare details” would not harm the public interest or national security. However, specific aspects of the legal proceedings will still remain confidential.

Spotify Unveils New Ad Tools to Streamline Buying, Creation, and Measurement

Spotify Advertising has introduced a suite of new tools aimed at simplifying how advertisers buy, create, and measure campaigns on its platform. Announced at the Spotify Advance event in New York City, the updates are designed to unlock the full potential of Spotify's advertising ecosystem.

Spotify has launched Spotify Ad Exchange (SAX), which allows advertisers to access Spotify’s highly engaged, logged-in user base via real time auction. Spotify also revealed improvements to its’ self serve Spotify Ads Manager, introducing enhanced targeting and measurement tools to better support advertisers. For creativity, the platform has expanded its in-house creative capabilities with Creative Lab, AUX, and the newly launched Spotify Gen AI Ads, offering automated, scalable ad creation options for brands.

White House Directs Federal Agencies to Appoint AI Leaders and Develop Strategies

The White House has mandated that all federal agencies appoint chief AI officers and draft strategic plans to expand the government's use of artificial intelligence. The directive, issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), marks a shift from earlier Biden-era efforts focused on AI safeguards, instead prioritising innovation and operational integration. The OMB memo emphasised a “forward-leaning and pro-innovation approach,” aiming to harness AI to shape the future of government operations.