The UK Government Will Have To Eventually Realize Messages Can’t Be Both Scanned And End-to-End Encrypted

If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. As the United Kingdom nears the final stages of ratifying its controversial online censorship bill, known as the “Online Safety Bill,” the government faces an uphill battle in the move to curb end-to-end encryption. The government has long pushed the idea of curbing child abuse as the guise through which to complete eradicate digital privacy. Recently, Culture Minister Stephen Parkinson addressed the House of Lords to articulate that the enforcement arm, Ofcom, would only force companies to use proactive technology to detect illegal content like child sexual abuse if it were “technically feasible.” Of course, it’s technically impossible to do when communications are end-to-end encrypted. Parkinson’s remarks come amid the backdrop of tech giants, such as WhatsApp, voicing concerns that the bill could threaten to compromise encryption standards. The UK’s positioning appears to be a tactical retreat in the face of immense pressure from technology companies and the public that argue the initial expectations of the bill could endanger user data and offer loopholes for cybercriminals. Earlier this year, WhatsApp took the dramatic step of threatening to exit the UK market altogether, signaling the depth of the rift between policymakers and the tech sector. The bill has been under development for six years and is supported by advocacy groups like the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). Despite the prolonged gestation period, however, there is no consensus on a “technically…The UK Government Will Have To Eventually Realize Messages Can’t Be Both Scanned And End-to-End Encrypted