The British government has urged Meta to delay the implementation of end-to-end encryption on Instagram and Facebook Messenger until adequate measures are in place to protect children from online sexual abuse. This call to action follows the recent passage of the Online Safety Bill by Parliament.
Currently, Meta applies encryption protocols for messaging on WhatsApp and plans to extend this feature across Messenger and Instagram direct messages. The company argues that end-to-end encryption enhances user safety and security.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman expressed her support for strong encryption to safeguard online users, but emphasized that such protections should not compromise the safety of children. She remarked, “Meta has failed to provide assurances that they will keep their platforms safe from sickening abusers. They must develop appropriate safeguards to accompany their plans for end-to-end encryption.”
A spokesperson from Meta responded by stating, “The overwhelming majority of Brits already rely on apps that use encryption to keep them safe from hackers, fraudsters, and criminals.” The spokesperson highlighted the company’s commitment to user privacy, asserting that they have dedicated the last five years to instituting robust safety measures aimed at preventing, detecting, and combating abuse while ensuring online security.
Meta also indicated that it would provide updates on its efforts to enhance user safety, including restrictions that will prevent users over the age of 19 from messaging teenagers who do not follow them and utilizing technology to identify and respond to malicious activity.
“As we implement end-to-end encryption, we anticipate that we will continue to provide more reports to law enforcement than our competitors due to our industry-leading initiatives focused on user safety,” the representative added.
With the Online Safety Bill now passed, social media platforms will be subjected to stricter regulations aimed at preventing children from encountering harmful content online.
The issue of end-to-end encryption has sparked debate between tech companies and the government as the new legislation moves forward. Messaging platforms, particularly WhatsApp, have expressed opposition to a stipulation that they claim could compel them to compromise end-to-end encryption.
Despite these concerns, the government maintains that the bill does not prohibit the technology; rather, it mandates that companies implement measures to combat child abuse and, as a last resort, develop methods to scan encrypted messages.
Tech industry representatives argue that scanning encrypted communications fundamentally contradicts the principles of end-to-end encryption.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
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