The president of encrypted messaging app Signal expressed concern that police were using valid public complaints about data collection and surveillance by big tech companies like Meta as a pretext to infringe on users’ privacy.
Meredith Whittaker, speaking to Guardian Australia, criticized the policy response to legitimate public backlash against mass surveillance technology, noting a focus on expanding surveillance rather than addressing the root issues of platform monopolies and data collection.
Signal, launched in 2018, stands out as a prominent encrypted messaging service. Whittaker, appointed president in 2022, highlights the pushback from countries like Australia, the UK, and the US against encrypting private communications, emphasizing the need to protect user privacy.
Criticism has been directed at Meta for its end-to-end encryption, with law enforcement urging tech companies to do more despite enforcement challenges since 2018. Proposed online safety standards may require measures to detect abuse material on encrypted messaging services.
Whittaker rejected the idea of a debate between law enforcement and tech companies, framing it as an existential issue for Signal. She emphasized the impossibility of conducting mass surveillance while preserving user privacy.
Signal intends to stand firm against bulk surveillance laws where legal, vowing to contest them or cease operations if necessary to uphold privacy rights worldwide.
As Western regulators seek increased surveillance powers over encrypted communications, and TikTok faces bans over data concerns, Whittaker emphasized the need for a comprehensive solution beyond scapegoating individual platforms.
Source: www.theguardian.com
