7 governments want to eliminate end-to-end app encryption

Intelligence agencies from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and India want access to messaging chats to counter criminal activities

Cybersecurity (Getty Images) The Five Eyes, alliance for intelligence sharing between the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, they sent a request to technology companies, also signed by Japan and India, to allow law enforcement to access communications protected by end encryption -to-end. Now on an annual basis, since 2018, the Five Eyes have insisted on obtaining a backdoor into the encryption systems of messaging applications, because it would allow criminals and terrorists to act undisturbed.

Primarily the seven governments push because the apps are designed with public safety in mind. In other words, by sharing keys and access tools with intelligence agencies to prosecute illegal content and activities, facilitate investigations and identify the perpetrators. Technology companies, therefore, should provide law enforcement with encrypted content in a readable and usable format. The new services, moreover, should also be designed taking into account the positions of governments.

The seven signatories argue that "particular implementations of encryption technology" pose major obstacles to law enforcement investigations, especially from the fact that the same technological platforms cannot access the communications hosted on their communication channels and, consequently, are unable to provide the necessary data to investigators. "We ask technology companies to work with governments to take the suggested steps, focusing on reasonable and technically feasible solutions," the seven governments explain in the press release. The game is on.