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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Technology
Alex Hern UK technology editor

WhatsApp and Signal unite against online safety bill amid privacy concerns

Social media apps, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and WhatsApp, displayed on a mobile phone screen
WhatsApp and Signal are concerned the online safety bill could in effect outlaw end-to-end encryption. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA

The rival chat apps WhatsApp and Signal have joined forces in a rare show of unity to protest against the online safety bill, which they say could undermine the UK’s privacy and safety.

In an open letter signed by the heads of both organisations as well as five other encrypted chat apps, the executives say the bill could be used to in effect outlaw end-to-end encryption, which prevents anyone but the intended recipient of a message from seeing its contents.

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