The UK government’s attempt to get Apple Inc. to build a backdoor into customer data stored on its cloud system is alarming privacy advocates and US government leaders who warn that the move could expose users’ information worldwide.

Not only is Apple unable to either confirm or deny that it has been told to create this back door, but the UK Home Office will not do so either. Making this worse, while Apple can appeal the demand, it can only do so in a secret court and must deliver the demanded access even before that appeal is heard.

A secret order would compel Apple to build a back door into its most secure iCloud backup option, The Washington Post reports.