Even if we accepted her arguments that encryption helps terrorists (as do white vans, the M4, and even sandwiches), the step of making secure communications systems weaker does not make logical sense.
If one makes WhatsApp, and similar apps, less secure for "real people" - does that stop terrorists using encryption? Well, no, obviously. Apart from using other common apps (only one app needs to actually do "end to end encryption" to be "useful") they can make there own - maths exists and so does encryption. Heck, you can buy books on it! Apparently terrorists groups already have apps for this - will Amber Rudd go and talk to ISIS and ask for back doors in their apps?
So the logic of actually making these commonly used apps less secure for everyone in order to help catch terrorists just makes no sense.
We then have the condescending and dangerous idea that "real people" do not need secure communications. "Real people" have every reason to keep communications private for lots of (legal) reasons. Oddly, MPs are reported as using WhatsApp simply because it is so secure. One can only conclude that MPs are not "real people" - something many have suspected for some time.
Either she is batshit insane, or stupid (in my personal opinion) or there is a motive to spy on everyone, not just terrorists and criminal. I am not actually sure which applies here. I hope people see how illogical these ideas are and treat them with the contempt they deserve. You do not have to understand encryption to realise this.
Why do we put up with such an embarrassing public figure?
And, to remind people, encryption can be done using pen and paper and dice... No apps needed!
The whole rhetoric on terrorism and child porn has been to erode civil liberties around the world, especially in the UK and US.
ReplyDeleteI have noticed the americans dont seem to be pushing this like the UK is which suggests that the NSA may have a backdoor or have managed to compromise encryption used by mainstream services, whilst the UK government hasnt managed to do this hence their stubbornness on the topic, they are never going to ban encryption, it is here to stay, so they just looking like idiots pushing for it.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant blog post on this particular issue and Government Minister Revk - Best thing I've read in ages. Cheers.
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