Cameron may ban Whatsapp, iMessage under new surveillance plans
British PM questions modes of communication which can be encrypted
PHOTO: AFP
Thinking of voting for David Cameron in the next elections? Well, think again. The British prime minister could block WhatsApp and iMessage if sworn into power again, as part of his new surveillance plans in the wake of the shootings in Paris.
Cameron has expressed concern over communication methods that cannot be read by law enforcement agencies even if they have a warrant and suggested he will ‘stop’ them, according to The Independent.
The British premier’s concerns mean that popular social networking applications that encrypt their data such as WhatsApp could also face a ban.
WhatsApp has remained committed to keeping their services encrypted and unable to be read by authorities.
Interestingly, Apple's iMessage and FaceTime also encrypt their data, and could fall under the ban along with other encrypted chat applications like Telegram.
The comments came as part of Cameron's pledge to revive the “snoopers’ charter” to help security services spy on internet communications.
“In our country, do we want to allow a means of communication between people which […] we cannot read?” Cameron questioned.
To support his stance, Cameron made a connection between encrypted communication tools which can be read by security services in situations that warrant them.
However, the move to limit privacy in the name of security has met with much criticism from companies earlier.
Cameron has expressed concern over communication methods that cannot be read by law enforcement agencies even if they have a warrant and suggested he will ‘stop’ them, according to The Independent.
The British premier’s concerns mean that popular social networking applications that encrypt their data such as WhatsApp could also face a ban.
WhatsApp has remained committed to keeping their services encrypted and unable to be read by authorities.
Interestingly, Apple's iMessage and FaceTime also encrypt their data, and could fall under the ban along with other encrypted chat applications like Telegram.
The comments came as part of Cameron's pledge to revive the “snoopers’ charter” to help security services spy on internet communications.
“In our country, do we want to allow a means of communication between people which […] we cannot read?” Cameron questioned.
To support his stance, Cameron made a connection between encrypted communication tools which can be read by security services in situations that warrant them.
However, the move to limit privacy in the name of security has met with much criticism from companies earlier.