WhatsApp, Signal and other popular messengers have sent an open letter to the British government calling for an urgent review of the Internet Security Act (OSB), which requires platforms to monitor users at the request of law enforcement. In this respect informs 9to5mac portal.
The bill provides for the blocking of violent material against children and the creation of a mechanism to prevent children from accessing information that is not appropriate for their age. The bill also prohibits content providers from distributing information protected by end-to-end encryption algorithms, as it prevents state-owned Ofcom from monitoring the legality of such data.
Therefore, if the bill is implemented in this way, it would give Ofcom the ability to “read” messages from messenger users, and as a result “break” all the logic of messengers protected by end-to-end encryption. Thanks to this method of protection, messages can only be seen by the addressees.
Open letter, Element CEO Matthew Hodgson, Oxen Privacy Tech Foundation and CSO Alex Linton, Signal President Meredith Whittaker, Threema CEO Martin Blatter, Viber CEO Ofer Eyal, WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart, and Wire CTO Alan Signed by Durik.
According to the British draft law, if the messenger refuses to follow the rules, he can be fined up to 4% of his annual turnover. WhatsApp, Signal and Proton have already said they will leave the UK if they need to track users.
Formerly socialbites.ca saidanimated emojis will appear in WhatsApp messenger.