Encrypted messaging apps cry foul on UK online safety bill

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Encrypted messaging apps, including WhatsApp, on Tuesday released an open letter calling on the British government to make changes in a proposed online safety law.

"The UK government is currently considering new legislation that opens the door to trying to force technology companies to break end-to-end encryption on private messaging services. The law could give an unelected official the power to weaken the privacy of billions of people around the world," the letter warned.

Defending the encryption technology, the companies said that no company, government or person should have the power to read personal messages.

"We’re proud to stand with other technology companies in our industry pushing back against the misguided parts of this law that would make people in the UK and around the world less safe," it added.

The communication services urged the British government to address the "risks that the Online Safety Bill poses to everyone's privacy and safety."

"It is not too late to ensure that the Bill aligns with the Government's stated intention to protect end-to-end encryption and respect the human right to privacy."

They reiterated that as global providers of end-to-end encrypted products and services, they cannot weaken the security of their products and services "to suit individual governments."

"There cannot be a 'British internet,' or a version of end-to-end encryption that is specific to the UK," it noted, calling on the government to "urgently" rethink and revise the bill.

The open letter, published on WhatsApp, was also signed by other apps like Element, Session, Signal, Threema, Viber, and Wire.

The government last year announced the bill as a measure to protect children and adults online.

The new bill also aims to make social media companies more responsible for users' safety on their platforms.