Snapchat, Skype putting users' privacy at risk, says human rights watchdog

Amnesty's Message Privacy Ranking asseses messaging apps to ensure they are using encryption to protect privacy

Tech companies such as Snapchat and Skype are not adhering to basic privacy protections necessary for their users, Amnesty International said on Tuesday.

By failing to adopt the standard rules these companies are putting user’s human rights at risk, the oragnisation added.

Amnesty International new ‘Message Privacy Ranking’ examines famous messaging application to ensure they are using encryption to protect their users’ privacy and freedom of protection.



“If you think instant messaging services are private, you are in for a big surprise. The reality is that our communications are under constant threat from cybercriminals and spying by state authorities. Young people, the most prolific sharers of personal details and photos over apps like Snapchat, are especially at risk,” said Sherif Elsayed-Ali, head of Amnesty International’s Technology and Human Rights Team.

PHOTO: AMNESTY

Amnesty emphasises on end-to-end encryption which can scramble data in a way that only the sender and recipient can view the message. It has been set as the minimum requirement standard for companies in order to make sure the privacy of users using the messaging apps.



“It is up to tech firms to respond to well-known threats to their users’ privacy and freedom of expression, yet many companies are falling at the first hurdle by failing to provide an adequate level of encryption. Millions of people are using messaging apps that deny them even the most basic privacy protection,” said Sherif.

According to the organisation rankings, Balckberry, Snapchat, and Microsoft-owned Skype scored less than 30 points out of 100, which should give these companies an alert call.

On the other hand, Facebook’s messenger and Apple led the way in the scoring and were said to be most secure in the messaging apps security race.