Today GCHQ has sent some of of the worlds top tech firms notice including Google, Apple, Microsoft and WhatsApp, that they will be seeking access to all of their content. These firms have joined human rights groups and others in ridiculing the proposal that would allow the authorities access to encrypted messages.
In an open letter to the British Government these firms have slammed a “ghost proposal” as a serious threat to cyber security and personal privacy. The proposal that would allow intelligence specialists to join groupchats and calls, is being seen as a further erosion of freedoms across the United Kingdom. The champions of this proposal such as Ian Levy, the technical director of the national cyber security centre , and Crispin Robinson who is the head of code breaking for the GCHQ, have made it clear this proposal would run in conjunction with wire tapping practices.
It was made clear that this proposal was firmly in its infancy. However 47 companies and groups, including Apple and WhatsApp, have been behind a letter which suggests this proposal would “create digital security risks by undermining authentication systems, by introducing potential unintentional vulnerabilities and by creating new risks of abuse or misuse of system.”
The letter goes on to say that “Users would no longer be able to trust that they know who is on the other end of their communications, thereby posing threats to fundamental human rights, including privacy and free expression”
The proposal would force messaging apps and other encryption service providers to alter software to grant access to the“ghosts,” because end-to-end encryption obscures message content from the service that hosts it, the letter writers said. There providers would be forced to keep the viewing of their content from their users.
Whilst unlimited state access to encryption has been common place in places such as North Korea and Cuba for as log as many can remember, with leaders insisting it is a vital tool against terrorism amongst other things, it is only now being considered in the Western World. In contrast to this, some will see this as necessary, to many this will be seen as a step too far.
Many who are for this proposal will point to the fact that Apple made headlines in America in 2015 for denying the FBI access to the iPhone of Syed Farook after he and his wife carried out a terrorist attack that left 14 people dead and nearly two dozen injured in San Bernardino. It should also be remembered that In December, the Australian parliament passed a bill which required tech companies to grant governments access to encrypted communications, calling it a necessary measure to prevent criminal and terrorist activity.
Movement towards state viewing of all aspects of citizens lives has been in process for a significant period of time. However, this has not stopped the uproar of many who demand privacy and the freedom of expression and speech.
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