In the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attack, some governments are already planning to take preemptive action against similar future events, by coming up with additional security means that could also further infringe on the privacy of regular users. Such is the case in the U.K., The Independent reports, where Prime Minister David Cameron said he wants to ban securely encrypted communication services including WhatsApp, SnapChat, iMessage and FaceTime should he win the next elections.
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“In our country, do we want to allow a means of communication between people which […] we cannot read?” the premier said. Cameron wants to revive the “snooper’s charter” to allow security services to spy on Internet communications under warrants from the home secretary.
Cameron’s intention regarding access to encrypted chat apps for spy agencies is similar to the sentiment of the White House, according to recent reports. Encryption in operating systems from Apple and Google have drawn recent plenty of criticism from law enforcement in the U.S., including the FBI.
So far, both Apple and Google, and other companies who offer similar protection to their communication platforms, seem committed to protect the user’s privacy, especially considering the massive leaks that revealed the extensive surveillance operations already being conducted by various top spy agencies.
