Chat Services Unite Against UK Online Safety Bill: A Threat to Privacy and Security
Privacy is not a privilege, it’s a basic human right. The proposed UK Online Safety Bill threatens to undermine that right for every British citizen and those they communicate with globally. We stand with other chat services in calling for a revision of this dangerous legislation. #PrivacyMatters #OnlineSafetyBill
WhatsApp, Signal, Threema, and other chat services have issued an open letter warning about a proposed UK law, the Online Safety Bill, which could undermine end-to-end encryption and pose an “unprecedented threat” to the privacy and security of all British citizens and those they communicate with globally. The proposed law could force chat services to monitor the messages sent by their users, which has been criticized by experts and civil rights movements. The chat services argue that it is impossible to monitor every chat message without undermining end-to-end encryption and that the proposed law would encourage hostile governments seeking similar legislation. They call on the UK government to revise the bill and encourage companies to provide more privacy and security for British citizens, not less.