“But Applewe believe confidentiality It’s a fundamental human right,” the company said in an announcement earlier this month talking about new privacy features on the App Store. And rightly so. The iPhone maker has joined the WhatsApp And Signal against britain online security bill That could give regulators the power to allow the scanning of encrypted messaging platforms such as iMessage, WhatsApp and Signal for child abuse material.
According to a BBC report, Apple’s stance comes as 80 organizations and tech experts have written to UK Technology Minister Chloe Smith to reconsider the powers given to the Office of Communications (or Ofcom) by the bill.
,end-to-end encryption There is an important capability that protects the privacy of journalists, human rights activists and diplomats. It also helps everyday citizens protect themselves from surveillance, identity theft, fraud and data breaches,” Apple was quoted as saying.
End-to-end encryption restricts anyone except the sender and recipient – not even the company providing the service – from reading the message.
“The Online Safety Bill poses a serious threat to this protection, and could put UK citizens at greater risk,” the company said. The company said the bill should be amended to protect the encryption.
“Apple has urged the government to amend the bill to safeguard strong end-to-end encryption for the benefit of all,” the company said.
UK government opinion
The UK government, police and some high-profile child protection charities argue that end-to-end encryption prevents authorities “and the firms themselves” from identifying the sharing of child sexual abuse material.
The government had previously said, “Tech companies have a moral duty to ensure that they are not blinding themselves and law enforcement to the unprecedented level of child sexual abuse on their platforms.”
Both WhatsApp and Signal have opposed this bill in the past as well. a letter signed by Will Cathcart, head of WhatsApp, in Meta; Meredith Whitaker, President of Signal; And representatives from Threema, Element, Wire and Session apps shared on Twitter in April.
In March, Cathcart said the company would rather be blocked in the UK than undermine the privacy of encrypted messages under an online security bill if the government said so.
The Signal chief has also threatened to stop providing services in the UK if it becomes necessary to scan messages under the bill.
According to a BBC report, Apple’s stance comes as 80 organizations and tech experts have written to UK Technology Minister Chloe Smith to reconsider the powers given to the Office of Communications (or Ofcom) by the bill.
,end-to-end encryption There is an important capability that protects the privacy of journalists, human rights activists and diplomats. It also helps everyday citizens protect themselves from surveillance, identity theft, fraud and data breaches,” Apple was quoted as saying.
End-to-end encryption restricts anyone except the sender and recipient – not even the company providing the service – from reading the message.
“The Online Safety Bill poses a serious threat to this protection, and could put UK citizens at greater risk,” the company said. The company said the bill should be amended to protect the encryption.
“Apple has urged the government to amend the bill to safeguard strong end-to-end encryption for the benefit of all,” the company said.
UK government opinion
The UK government, police and some high-profile child protection charities argue that end-to-end encryption prevents authorities “and the firms themselves” from identifying the sharing of child sexual abuse material.
The government had previously said, “Tech companies have a moral duty to ensure that they are not blinding themselves and law enforcement to the unprecedented level of child sexual abuse on their platforms.”
Both WhatsApp and Signal have opposed this bill in the past as well. a letter signed by Will Cathcart, head of WhatsApp, in Meta; Meredith Whitaker, President of Signal; And representatives from Threema, Element, Wire and Session apps shared on Twitter in April.
In March, Cathcart said the company would rather be blocked in the UK than undermine the privacy of encrypted messages under an online security bill if the government said so.
The Signal chief has also threatened to stop providing services in the UK if it becomes necessary to scan messages under the bill.