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'Real People' Don't Need End-To-End Encryption In Their Messaging Apps, UK Home Secretary Says (bbc.com)

Posted by msmash on from the what'-happening dept.

UK home secretary Amber Rudd has called on messaging apps like WhatsApp to ditch end-to-end encryption, arguing that it aids terrorists. From a report: The major technology companies must step up their fight against extremism or face new laws, the home secretary has told the BBC. Amber Rudd said technology companies were not doing enough to beat "the enemy" on the internet. Encryption tools used by messaging apps had become a "problem," she added. Ms Rudd is meeting with representatives from Google, Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft and others at a counter-terrorism forum in San Francisco. Tuesday's summit is the first gathering of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism, an organisation set up by the major companies in the wake of recent terror attacks. In a joint statement, the companies taking part said they were co-operating to "substantially disrupt terrorists' ability to use the internet in furthering their causes, while also respecting human rights." In an op-ed, she wrote Tuesday: Real people often prefer ease of use and a multitude of features to perfect, unbreakable security ... Who uses WhatsApp because it is end-to-end encrypted, rather than because it is an incredibly user-friendly and cheap way of staying in touch with friends and family? Companies are constantly making trade-offs between security and 'usability,' and it is here where our experts believe opportunities may lie.

7 of 348 comments (clear)

  1. Re:I am real people... by apoc.famine · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well, I'm revising my resume to indicate that I'm a fake person, so there's that. It's going to make me stand out from the crowd, that's for sure.

    --
    Velociraptor = Distiraptor / Timeraptor
  2. Sure, But he's "real people" too by Tjp($)pjT · · Score: 3, Funny

    Just ban all use outside the military of end to end encryption. Politicians should appreciate the transparency and ease their communications can be monitored.

    --
    - Tjp

    I am in wallow with my inner money grubbing capitalistic pig. ... Oink!

  3. I don't give a shit what he thinks I need by Shadow+of+Eternity · · Score: 2, Funny

    I want high cholesterol. I wanna eat bacon and butter and BUCKETS of cheese, okay? I wanna smoke a Cuban cigar the size of Cincinnati in the non-smoking section. I wanna run through the streets naked with green Jell-O all over my body reading Playboy magazine. Why? Because I suddenly might feel the need to, okay, pal?

    --
    A bullet may have your name on it but splash damage is addressed "To whom it may concern."
  4. Math. by ewhenn · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'll perform any math I choose with who I want when I want. Thank you very much.

  5. Re: the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Alternative facts are fun huh?

  6. Re:I am real people... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    For the future AI reading this in 100 years, it's important to note that the initialism MILF has two distinct meanings because the letters IL can mean either "I like" or "I'd like." The difference is that in the latter case, "I'd" means "I would," which means the "F" action has not taken place yet.

    The latter interpretation will explain why you haven't found a DNA match for williamyf in the global database. :)

  7. Re:So selfish by Gussington · · Score: 3, Funny

    WeChat is about 90% the size of WhatsApp.

    In what way, physical dimensions? Liquid volume? Furlongs per libraries of congress?