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WhatsApp has an encrypted child porn problem

techcrunch.com

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Re: WhatsApp has an encrypted child porn problem

#2
> WhatsApp chat groups are being used to spread illegal child pornography, cloaked by the app’s end-to-end encryption. Without the necessary number of human moderators, the disturbing content is slipping by WhatsApp’s automated systems.

Wait what? Moderators for end-to-end encrypted communication?

Something doesn't add up!

Re: WhatsApp has an encrypted child porn problem

#3

> WhatsApp chat groups are being used to spread illegal child pornography, cloaked by the app’s end-to-end encryption. Without the necessary number of human moderators, the disturbing content is slipping by WhatsApp’s automated systems. Wait what? Moderators for end-to-end encrypted communication? Something doesn't add up!

I'm guessing since these are publicly accessible groups via apps as the article suggests, moderators could in theory search out and shut down such groups. Not sure how much data they are able to provide to the authorities though, I guess prosecuting the people is the difficult part.

Re: WhatsApp has an encrypted child porn problem

#4
post #3

> WhatsApp chat groups are being used to spread illegal child pornography, cloaked by the app’s end-to-end encryption. Without the necessary number of human moderators, the disturbing content is slipping by WhatsApp’s automated systems. Wait what? Moderators for end-to-end encrypted communication? Something doesn't add up!

I'm guessing since these are publicly accessible groups via apps as the article suggests, moderators could in theory search out and shut down such groups. Not sure how much data they are able to provide to the authorities though, I guess prosecuting the people is the difficult part.

Yeah. It's just bad writing in the opening paragraph.

WhatsApp doesn't provide search but groups can be joined via links. Third-party apps and sites use the links to index groups. Some groups share illegal content. WhatsApp should hire people to crawl those apps/sites, find the illegal groups, join, verify and ban.

Not entirely unreasonable. Won't fix anything* but if the company is big and well funded they should at least make some effort.

* so you ban the users? $10 gets you a new pre-paid sim card

Could it be that "tech companies" are reluctant to pursue cat and mouse solutions (which also cost money) while "non-tech public" seems content enough if attempts are made to push the issue deeper under the surface?

Re: WhatsApp has an encrypted child porn problem

#5

> WhatsApp chat groups are being used to spread illegal child pornography, cloaked by the app’s end-to-end encryption. Without the necessary number of human moderators, the disturbing content is slipping by WhatsApp’s automated systems. Wait what? Moderators for end-to-end encrypted communication? Something doesn't add up!

A moderator could be a member of that chat group, therefore about to receive encrypted communications.

Obviously it wouldn't work with the way WhatsApp groups work now, but it is in a strange place half way between private and public.

Re: WhatsApp has an encrypted child porn problem

#10
This problem is only going to grow in the future. You can't control or reliably censor information on a free and open internet. The only way to ensure that nothing "bad" happens on the internet is to completely lock it down and whitelist everything that is posted. This isn't going to happen.

In a few years blockchain based messaging apps will be launching and they will not be controlled by Facebook or anyone else. You won't be able to ban anyone. This is something we are going to have to accept and deal with. There will be things you don't like on the internet.

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