UK backed away from breaking end-to-end encryption in its new Online Safety Bill. Although privacy advocates are celebrating, their victory is far from complete. - eviltoast

In the physical world, the limits are clear: no democratic government is permitted to monitor citizens in their homes without a court order, even to prevent domestic violence or child sexual abuse. In the digital world, though, the answer remains unresolved. Child safety advocates believe that governments must be able to unlock private messages, while tech companies and privacy activists see a smokescreen for mass government surveillance.

  • Lmaydev@programming.dev
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    1 year ago

    Tbh you can just do it client side once it’s decrypted. It may not be that hard to circumvent but the vast majority wouldn’t bother.

    I’m hoping this just doesn’t get passed in its current form. But not sure the house of lords will have much understanding of this stuff.

    • Big P@feddit.uk
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      1 year ago

      They want to do client side scanning which technically keeps E2E encryption but basically destroys the principle behind it. Today it’s CSAM, tomorrow its terrorism related phrases, next year its “anti-government sentiment”

      • Lmaydev@programming.dev
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        1 year ago

        Which won’t affect the majority of people at all. Which is how they get away with it.

        The people who do care will just move to safer alternatives.

        • Flax@feddit.uk
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          1 year ago

          Literally. I believe most criminals aren’t using WhatsApp. Moreso some weird thing called “EncroChat”

          • Lmaydev@programming.dev
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            1 year ago

            Exactly.

            But you do hear a lot about Facebook groups for it and shit. I’m guessing many of them are just stupid as fuck.

            Which I guess is the target of this.

            • Flax@feddit.uk
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              1 year ago

              If they’re that stupid can’t they just have people infiltrate the group like they do with encrochat