Some iPhone customers appear to be unable to turn on Private Relay due to a T-Mobile glitch.
According to a report from 9to5Mac, T-Mobile appears to be preventing some iPhone users from using iCloud Private Relay, a function that allows you to hide your online activities from other parties.
@TMobileHelp What the hey? Why are you keeping us from using @Apple ‘s #icloud private relay? pic.twitter.com/EtdxkVSpWh
— Jon Guidry (@guidryjd) January 10, 2022
In iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, Private Relay is still in beta and not enabled by default. To turn on your iPhone, you must go into the settings, which is where some T-Mobile customers have discovered an odd message. “Your cellular plan does not enable iCloud Private Relay,” as demonstrated in the following tweet, the user is informed. This network can monitor your internet activities if Private Relay is turned off, and your IP address is visible to known trackers and websites.”
In reply to that tweet, the user demonstrates what occurs when you click the “Learn More” button below the initial notification – Apple explains why T-Mobile might be restricting the feature there. “Access to Private Relay will be blocked for networks that require the capacity to audit traffic or undertake network-based filtering,” it says. “Your cellular operator may offer network-based services like Parental Controls, which require them to monitor your network traffic.”
Private Relay, which works similarly to a VPN, covers your web activity from all outside sources, including Apple and your carrier, and prevents anyone from identifying you or the websites you visit. Currently, it’s only available as part of an iCloud Plus membership.
iPhone customers in Europe were the first to realize the Private Relay feature was disabled, according to 9to5Mac. T-Mobile, Vodafone, and Telefonica have all signed an open letter criticizing the feature, which was published in The Telegraph. Carriers say that Private Relay “would hinder others’ capacity to develop and compete in downstream digital marketplaces, as well as operators’ ability to run telecommunication networks efficiently.”
You might not see the block on Private Relay if you’re a T-Mobile customer just yet (it was still available on the T-Mobile iPhones we tested). It’s unclear whether this was done on purpose, if it will affect all T-Mobile users, or if it will only affect particular plans. T-Mobile and Apple were contacted for comment by The Verge, but no response was received right away.
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