Apple dropped plan for encrypting backups after FBI complained
Even if you want nothing to do with iCould, you must still enable it for these features:- Mac-to-Mac copy/paste (shared clipboard, continuity)
- iPad sidecarOnce you enable it, it immediately begins uploading your contacts, photos and passwords to Apple. Then you need to disable those specific things. Even after you delete those things, every app on your phone can silently and without your explicit permission, start loading data into iCloud.