The encryption tussle between government and industry is flaring up yet again, like a persistent case of psoriasis. And before you ask: No, the underlying facts of the matter haven’t changed. Up is still up, down is still down, and it’s still a technical fantasy to think you can weaken encryption in a way that gives some people (e.g., law enforcement) access while retaining its strength for everyone else.
The latest country to try bashing its head against the wall of reality is <spins wheel> the U.K., where WhatsApp, Signal, and a host of other messaging platforms are calling for the government to reconsider parts of the Online Safety Bill which would force chat services to use “accredited technology” that scans for terrorist and child-abuse material—and, somewhat incredibly, videos of migrants crossing the English Channel from mainland Europe.
