‘WhatsApp encryption helps terrorists communicate safely’ – pppFocus

The battle over encryption, and the role tech companies should play in criminal investigations, has re-emerged after United Kingdom investigators discovered that Khalid Masood, the alleged perpetrator of last weeks terror attack in London, used WhatsApp before the attack.

Four people were killed and 50 others were injured before the attacker was shot and killed by police.

In a Sunday appearance on BBCs Andrew Marr show, U.K. Secretary of State Amber Rudd said the end-to-end encryption capabilities of messaging tools like WhatsApp are completely unacceptable. There should be no place for terrorists to hide, Rudd said, explaining how she believes national security supersedes concerns over privacy.

End-to-end encryption ensures that data is encrypted on one end and can only be deciphered by the recipient, with no third party, including Internet providers, able to intercept the messages. Apple found itself ensnarled in the debate previous year as authorities sought to unlock the phones of the San Bernardino shooters, who killed 14 people at a center for adults with disabilities in December 2015. Eventually, the Federal Bureau of Investigation accessed the devices without Apples assistance.

The tech industry will most likely resist Rudds request for a back door system to allow authorities to retrieve information, as it has in the face of previous law enforcement demands for access to data after major attacks.

And encrypted messaging is becoming a more popular feature, with other services opting to roll out new features. We need to make sure organisations like WhatsApp, and there are plenty of others like that, dont provide a secret place for terrorists to communicate with each other. [.] We need to make sure our intelligent services have the ability to get into situations like encrypted WhatsApp.Earlier today, MP Nadine Dorries also joined the chorus, tweeting that to keep our streets safe, we need to rise up against companies like Apple and WhatsApp who provide space and comfort to terrorists. They are not, she noted.

There is a fine line here, Maltese Interior Minister Carmelo Abela said Monday.

Police made another arrest in Birmingham, where Masood had lived. The 30-year-old is one of two men now being held over possible connection to the attack.

This report contains material from the Associated Press.

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'WhatsApp encryption helps terrorists communicate safely' - pppFocus