Signal: Here’s what Apple has to say on UK law opposed by WhatsApp, Signal – Times of India
“At Apple, we believe privacy is a fundamental human right,” the company said in an announcement while talking about new privacy features on the App Store earlier this month. And rightly so. The iPhone maker has joined WhatsApp and Signal in opposing the Uk’s Online Safety Bill that could give powers to the regulators to allow scanning of encrypted messaging platforms like iMessage, WhatsApp and Signal for child abuse material.
According to a report in BBC, Apple’s stand comes as 80 organisations and tech experts have written to the UK’s technology minister Chloe Smith to rethink the powers that the bill grants to the Office of Communications (or Ofcom).
“End-to-end encryption is a critical capability that protects the privacy of journalists, human rights activists, and diplomats. It also helps everyday citizens defend themselves from surveillance, identity theft, fraud, and data breaches,” Apple was quoted as saying.
End-to-end encryption restricts anyone – even the company offering the service – except the sender and recipient to read the message.
“The Online Safety Bill poses a serious threat to this protection, and could put UK citizens at greater risk,” the company said, adding that the bill should be amended to protect encryption.
“Apple urges the government to amend the bill to protect strong end-to-end encryption for the benefit of all,” the company noted.
The UK government’s take
The UK government, the Police, and some high-profile child protection charities argue that the end-to-end encryption prevents the authorities “and the firms themselves” from identifying the sharing of child sexual abuse material.
“Tech companies have a moral duty to ensure they are not blinding themselves and law enforcement to the unprecedented levels of child sexual abuse on their platforms,” the government has previously said.
Both WhatsApp and Signal have opposed the Bill in the past. A letter signed by Will Cathcart, head of WhatsApp at Meta; Meredith Whittaker, president at Signal; and representatives from Threema, Element, Wire and Session apps was shared on Twitter back in April.
In March, Cathcart said the company would rather be blocked in the UK than to weaken the privacy of encrypted messages under the Online Safety Bill, if asked by the government.
Signal chief has also threatened that it could stop providing services in the UK if the bill required it to scan messages.
According to a report in BBC, Apple’s stand comes as 80 organisations and tech experts have written to the UK’s technology minister Chloe Smith to rethink the powers that the bill grants to the Office of Communications (or Ofcom).
“End-to-end encryption is a critical capability that protects the privacy of journalists, human rights activists, and diplomats. It also helps everyday citizens defend themselves from surveillance, identity theft, fraud, and data breaches,” Apple was quoted as saying.
End-to-end encryption restricts anyone – even the company offering the service – except the sender and recipient to read the message.
“The Online Safety Bill poses a serious threat to this protection, and could put UK citizens at greater risk,” the company said, adding that the bill should be amended to protect encryption.
“Apple urges the government to amend the bill to protect strong end-to-end encryption for the benefit of all,” the company noted.
The UK government’s take
The UK government, the Police, and some high-profile child protection charities argue that the end-to-end encryption prevents the authorities “and the firms themselves” from identifying the sharing of child sexual abuse material.
“Tech companies have a moral duty to ensure they are not blinding themselves and law enforcement to the unprecedented levels of child sexual abuse on their platforms,” the government has previously said.
Both WhatsApp and Signal have opposed the Bill in the past. A letter signed by Will Cathcart, head of WhatsApp at Meta; Meredith Whittaker, president at Signal; and representatives from Threema, Element, Wire and Session apps was shared on Twitter back in April.
In March, Cathcart said the company would rather be blocked in the UK than to weaken the privacy of encrypted messages under the Online Safety Bill, if asked by the government.
Signal chief has also threatened that it could stop providing services in the UK if the bill required it to scan messages.
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