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Google Accused of Showing 'Total Contempt' for Android Users' Privacy (bleepingcomputer.com)
On the heels of a terse privacy debate, Google may have found another thing to worry about: its attempt to rethink the traditional texting system. From a report: Joe Westby is Amnesty International's Technology and Human Rights researcher. Recently, in response to Google's launch of a new messaging service called "Chat", Westby argued that Google, "shows total contempt for Android users' privacy."
"With its baffling decision to launch a messaging service without end-to-end encryption, Google has shown utter contempt for the privacy of Android users and handed a precious gift to cybercriminals and government spies alike, allowing them easy access to the content of Android users' communications. Following the revelations by CIA whistleblower Edward Snowden, end-to-end encryption has become recognized as an essential safeguard for protecting people's privacy when using messaging apps. With this new Chat service, Google shows a staggering failure to respect the human rights of its customers," Westby contended. Westby continued, saying: "In the wake of the recent Facebook data scandal, Google's decision is not only dangerous but also out of step with current attitudes to data privacy."
"With its baffling decision to launch a messaging service without end-to-end encryption, Google has shown utter contempt for the privacy of Android users and handed a precious gift to cybercriminals and government spies alike, allowing them easy access to the content of Android users' communications. Following the revelations by CIA whistleblower Edward Snowden, end-to-end encryption has become recognized as an essential safeguard for protecting people's privacy when using messaging apps. With this new Chat service, Google shows a staggering failure to respect the human rights of its customers," Westby contended. Westby continued, saying: "In the wake of the recent Facebook data scandal, Google's decision is not only dangerous but also out of step with current attitudes to data privacy."
Guilty as charged. I think it's time for some serious anti-trust action in Federal court.
Nope. It's messaging on the cell phone signalling protocols, just like SMS. This is different to an application running on the top.
When you are defining such protocols, the governments of the world require "Lawful Access" laws to be adhered to. When we were working on WiMax, the FBI turned up to the meetings to discuss the LA features in the protocol.
This is why you do secure messaging from and app, over IP.
SMS and it's brethren will never be secure and there's nothing Google or anyone else can do about it, without a major change of behavior on the part of governments.
I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
End to end encryption is fine, but Google (for once) is doing the right thing by having a telco standard instead of an over-the-top app sending God-knows-what.
Would I like to see end-to-end encryption? Yes. I'd like to see SS7 issues fixed first. There are plenty of E2E secure messaging solutions out there and I can't see why RCS is worse than MMS as a solution for enchanced SMS service.
At the very least, this is a fully interoperable system, not tied to Google, Inc or any specific carrier.
That's a Good Thing.
Hire a Linux system administrator, systems engineer,