David Cameron in ‘cloud cuckoo land’ over encrypted messaging apps ban

Start-ups have warned on the possible effect on Britains nascent technology sector of Camerons plans. Photograph: BARRY HUANG/REUTERS

David Cameron is living in cloud cuckoo land when he suggests a new Tory government would ban messaging apps that use encryption, security experts have told the Guardian.

The prime minister has pledged anti-terror laws to give the security services the ability to read encrypted communications in extreme circumstances. But experts say such access would mean changing the way internet-based messaging services such as Apples iMessage or Facebooks WhatsApp work.

Independent computer security expert Graham Cluley said: Its crazy. Cameron is living in cloud cuckoo land if he thinks that this is a sensible idea, and no it wouldnt be possible to implement properly.

Other security experts echo Cluley, describing the approach as idiocy and saying Camerons plans are ill-thought out and scary. The UKs data watchdog has also spoken out against knee-jerk reactions, saying moves could undermine consumer security.

Meanwhile a start-up has warned on the possible effect on Britains nascent technology sector of Camerons plans. Eris Industries, which uses open-source cryptography, has said it is already making plans to leave the UK if the Conservative party is re-elected with this policy in its programme.

On Monday, Cameron made a speech in which he decried the ability of ordinary people to have conversations on which the security services were unable to eavesdrop.

In extremis, it has been possible to read someones letter, to listen to someones call, to mobile communications, Cameron said. The question remains: are we going to allow a means of communications where it simply is not possible to do that? My answer to that question is: no, we must not.

Cluley said either tech companies would have to work with UK government and build backdoors into their software to allow the authorities to intercept messages, or the apps themselves will have to be banned.

If there are backdoors in the apps, or if weak encryption is used, then you are only opening up opportunities for hackers to break in and steal information too. Thats not going to go down well with businesses or consumers, Cluley said.

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David Cameron in 'cloud cuckoo land' over encrypted messaging apps ban