The whole UK government is run via WhatsApp. The threat to withdraw service should have concentrated minds.
This isn't true, is it? If so that's slightly terrifying.
What they would use instead? Plain-text emails? Plain-text SMS? Paper mail?
UK pulls back from clash with Big Tech over private messaging
211–220 of 320 posts
Re: UK pulls back from clash with Big Tech over private messaging
#212Re: UK pulls back from clash with Big Tech over private messaging
#213It's a little unclear, but my reading of this is that the power to do it will still be in the law, requiring at most secondary legislation to put into effect (perhaps not even that) if they think they ever have enough leverage over messaging providers, or are willing to spend the political capital. Not a great place to be in really, but better than it actually being deployed.
I’d bet my life we start to see a massive influx of bad press aimed at messaging providers, focusing on how criminals are using their services, over the next few years. When the general sentiment of the average Dave is ‘encryption === bad’ this BS will rear its head again. Seems to have been the standard play for governments of this country for decades now.
I agree. And they're intelligent (pun intended), so they'll select demographics from those of us who opposed them and illustrate extremist scapegoats most outrageous to us.
I think this is too often not understood or forgotten.
Re: UK pulls back from clash with Big Tech over private messaging
#214Earlier quoted context omitted.
I’d bet my life we start to see a massive influx of bad press aimed at messaging providers, focusing on how criminals are using their services, over the next few years. When the general sentiment of the average Dave is ‘encryption === bad’ this BS will rear its head again. Seems to have been the standard play for governments of this country for decades now.
Bitcoin is an example of this already played out. News cycle perpetuates bitcoin == bad so everyone you know just repeats "scam" and points to criminals. Meanwhile the largest institutions and richest people are investing heavily due to its revolutionary nature. Just look at all the ETFs coming out (Blackrock, Fidelity, etc). Once they are fully setup you'll see the news cycle change sentiment. Rinse, repeat, with an…
Just because "they" say it's bad, does not make it good
Bitcoin is bad.
Even a broken clock is right twice a day....
Re: UK pulls back from clash with Big Tech over private messaging
#215I don't really like the headline, it makes it sound negative.
Big Tech tends to have negative connotations, nowadays. So, here the FT is trying to say that a democratically elected government is living in fear of private firms.
While it may be true that our government are now living in fear of not just Big Tech but all types of Big whatever, the fight was way beyond just big tech. Sure Big Tech helped but it still is a badly written and badly thought out think-about-the-children type law that was being fought by everyone not just big tech.
I didn't bother to read the article. Headlines are important There are other things to rage about Big Tech, this is not the one.
Re: UK pulls back from clash with Big Tech over private messaging
#216Earlier quoted context omitted.
well, by definition if the key is to be used, and to be used more than once, it cannot be kept safe. The key has to go through multiple hands on its way from the senior government official responsible for its safekeeping to the peon assigned to unlock a specific phone at a specific point in time. It could be copied at any one of those points. No amount of technology or cryptography can solve the master key problem. T…
Doesn't this problem exist throughout the tech industry though? Microsoft, Google, Apple etc are keeping the keys that allow you to push updates secret, aren't they?
If a software signing key is compromised it can be revoked and a few weeks later the risk is only to people who don't keep their OS up to date. Further, exploited compromises are detectable, especially if exploited at scale.
If the backdoor crypto key is compromised, sure they can revoke it (assuming they manage to design a competent system), but all the sensitive information up that point is now available to whoever possesses the backdoor key. Unlike the software signing case, exploitation of the compromise is likely undetectable unless the attacker reveals their knowledge somehow.
Re: UK pulls back from clash with Big Tech over private messaging
#217Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's either terrorism or child pornography. In my country (Romania) they use to call football hooligans whenever a protest is being made on a bigger scale just so they can put us all in the same boat and have an excuse to use armed forces and disperse everyone on the basis that the event was not peacefully done. Most of the people I talk to are brainwashed anyway and will happily accept it - just give it time. The di…
> "I have nothing to hide anyway". People who make that argument should be forced to have high def webcams installed in their bedrooms and bathrooms.
Not even that: just say sure, give me your phone and pin, and let me read your messages and view your photos.
Guaranteed not 1 person will take you up on that.
Re: UK pulls back from clash with Big Tech over private messaging
#218It’s time that encryption rights become human rights.
This is a right-wing Tory government. The same people who initiated the Brexit mess mainly because they wanted to opt out of human rights (sorry I mean "reclaim their sovereignty").
Re: UK pulls back from clash with Big Tech over private messaging
#219Earlier quoted context omitted.
I’d bet my life we start to see a massive influx of bad press aimed at messaging providers, focusing on how criminals are using their services, over the next few years. When the general sentiment of the average Dave is ‘encryption === bad’ this BS will rear its head again. Seems to have been the standard play for governments of this country for decades now.
Great example https://www.wired.com/story/apple-csam-scanning-heat-initiat... Heat initiative is basically non existent on Google. Not much of said about how they're funded or who is apart of it Their website is protectchildrennotabuse.org Has a CEO with experience in running charitable orgs They're explicitly focused on client side scanning and reporting on the iPhone. Honestly if you're reading this archive the web…
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Re: UK pulls back from clash with Big Tech over private messaging
#220Earlier quoted context omitted.
Through most of history government always has the power, but the question is whether it has the legitimacy. In this case it has the legitimacy, but lacks the power. This is an unusual turn. We need online safety for kids. The aims of this bill should obtain widespread support from everyone. But instead of carefully researching and implementing difficult ideas, framing it properly and obtaining permission from the peo…
People might be more receptive if the UK government had shown any real intention of going after pedos before this. But the number of scandals and coverups indicate they dont. And this is little more than an excuse to make it easier to spy on their subjects.
Indeed. From Jimmy Saville to Prince Andrew to Rochdale gangs. Nobody in charge seems to be much inclined to protected savagely abused children.