octalfudgeApple joins opposition to encrypted message app scanning
Untitled9999I think law enforcement should be able to intercept messages on services like WhatsApp, if someone is suspected of criminal activity.
Is it right for criminals to be able to share child abuse material, or plans for terrorism, over something like WhatsApp? Without law enforcement being able to intercept these messages?
I think law enforcement can break into your home if they have a court warrant, right? So why not allow the same thing with electronic communications?
It's simple.
If it's possible for WhatsApp to intercept the communications of "bad people" for law enforcement, it's fundamentally impossible for any communication to be private. The existence of a back door is automatically a gaping security flaw.
There's no such thing as "securely intercepting" messages. Either they're secure against all actors or they're not secure.
Maybe it's worth having that security hole then. I think it's a bit crazy that terrorists or child abusers can plan their crimes using WhatsApp without the police being able to intercept their messages.
Also, if we're able to contact our banks over the internet securely (and obviously the bank can still see everything about our accounts if they want, while criminals hopefully won't be able to), then surely an equivalent should be possible for things like WhatsApp.
cachesonMaybe it's worth having that security hole then. I think it's a bit crazy that terrorists or child abusers can plan their crimes using WhatsApp without the police being able to intercept their messages.
Encryption exists. Terrorists and child abusers will use it whether WhatsApp or Apple or whoever implement it or not. Stopping those implementations is just denying privacy to regular users.
Also, if we're able to contact our banks over the internet securely (and obviously the bank can still see everything about our accounts if they want, while criminals hopefully won't be able to), then surely an equivalent should be possible for things like WhatsApp.
Law enforcement can't eavesdrop on your encrypted connection to your bank. If they need to know about your banking activity, they rely on the bank reporting it to them.