Audio By Carbonatix
The US, UK, and three other governments have called on tech companies to build backdoors into their encrypted products so that law enforcement will always be able to obtain access.
If companies don’t, the governments say they “may pursue technological, enforcement, legislative, or other measures” in order to get into locked devices and services.
Their statement came out of a meeting last week between nations in the Five Eyes pact, an intelligence-sharing agreement between the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The nations issued a statement covering a range of technology-related issues they face, but it was their remarks on encryption that stood out the most.
In their memo, the governments stress that these backdoors would only be for “lawful” access to a device, such as in a criminal investigation. And they plan to start by encouraging tech companies to voluntarily add them. But the backdoors would only be voluntary to a point, because the governments say that they might mandate a way in if they “continue to encounter impediments” to accessing encrypted data.
At this point, their request for a backdoor is more of a wish than a command or a threat. But the statement speaks to the growing movement against encryption by governments and lawmakers, who see it as an impediment to law enforcement. As encryption grows more and more accessible in the coming years, these requests are only likely to grow — and could eventually lead to action.
Tech companies have also been wary to comply. Adding a backdoor into their products would inherently mean that their promise of data privacy is broken. It would also open them up to similar requests from other countries, which could use the backdoor access for spying in inappropriate circumstances.
In addition to touching on encryption, the nations also issued a memo on keeping online spaces free from child predators, terrorists, and other bad actors. They asked tech companies to build tools that could prevent illegal content from “ever being uploaded,” while reiterating familiar requests like using humans and automated tools to remove existing content and collaborating across the industry to ID bad content so that it can’t spread.
Latest Stories
-
US accused of using illegal workers at centre processing refugee claims in South Africa
58 minutes -
Billionaire Jared Isaacman, an Elon Musk ally, confirmed as NASA chief
1 hour -
Susan Boyle ‘incredibly touched’ by Timothée Chalamet’s praise
1 hour -
Indian scientists predict how bird flu could spread to humans
2 hours -
Childhood friends find ‘$55,000 diamond’ in India
2 hours -
Heavy rains worsen conditions for displaced Gazans, UN warns
2 hours -
Venezuela denounces Trump’s order for ship blockade as ‘warmongering threats’
2 hours -
BP names new boss as current CEO leaves after less than two years
2 hours -
Dan Bongino stepping down as FBI deputy director
2 hours -
Bedwetting: Seven‑year‑old burned; guardian faces charges
3 hours -
Macclesfield forward McLeod dies in car accident
4 hours -
Newcastle to face Man City in EFL Cup semi-finals
4 hours -
‘Don’t put the President on the spot’ – Fifi Kwetey rebukes Majority leadership over OSP Bill
5 hours -
‘There is no conspiracy by NDC’ – Fifi Kwetey explains OSP Bill fallout after presidential intervention
5 hours -
Nigeria allege DR Congo ‘fraud’ as they hunt World Cup reprieve
6 hours
