Your information passing thru Apple servers can be subpoenaed by law enforcement when they have a warrant signed by a judge. This isn't new news to you or I.
If (and I'm not sure photos are included) Apple is telling the truth, the data was secured in transit with their usual SSL, and was encrypted on the user's computer first, then is the data really on Apples' servers at all? They have an encrypted blob with no key, saying they have a copy of it isn't accurate.
If it was a real safe then a) Apple can't prove that the blob doesn't hold a document that a warrant is for, but equally law enforcement can't prove it is there. Unfortunately they can just ask for the whole thing. b) Chain of custody can't be shown by Apple, all they did is take the locked safe from you. I could send a document to the printer and ask you to take it to my boss, what if they received a resignation letter not a weekly report?
I understand where the pics are coming from when they have a signed warrant from a judge demonstrating probable cause, so I understand can can feel for both sides of the argument. It isn't a simple issue.
