End-to-end encryption propaganda campaign

[elbows]

The spooks have an obvious interest in this subject and now we have a new campaign which is going to be controversial and messy, and make heavy use of the emotive subject of child safety.

Here for example is a BBC news article where the UK data watchdog is at odds with the home-office backed campaign.

The No Place to Hide campaign says Facebook should abandon plans for end-to-end encryption in its Messenger app, saying it helps to hide child abuse.

But the Information Commissioner's Office argues the technology strengthens children's online safety.

A delay "leaves everyone at risk, including children," it told the BBC.

Stephen Bonner, the ICO's executive director for innovation and technology, said end-to-end encryption helped keep children safe online by not allowing "criminals and abusers to send them harmful content or access their pictures or location".

"The discussion on end-to-end encryption use is too unbalanced to make a wise and informed choice. There is too much focus on the costs without also weighing up the significant benefits," he said.

Encryption: UK data watchdog criticises government campaign

It says delaying the rollout of encrypted message apps leaves everyone at risk, including children.

www.bbc.co.uk

And Rolling Stone had a story some days ago that attempted to expose the nature of the campaign before it began. A spin off company from Saatchi and Saatchi is involved.

According to documents reviewed by Rolling Stone, one the activities considered as part of the publicity offensive is a striking stunt — placing an adult and child (both actors) in a glass box, with the adult looking “knowingly” at the child as the glass fades to black.

The plans include a media blitz, campaign efforts from UK charities and law enforcement agencies, calls to action for the public to contact tech companies directly, and multiple real-world stunts — some designed to make the public “uneasy.” The presentation was produced to recruit potential not-for-profit coalition partners, so it is not clear whether or not each proposed action within was approved for the final campaign.

One key slide notes that “most of the public have never heard” of end-to-end encryption – adding that this means “people can be easily swayed” on the issue. The same slide notes that the campaign “must not start a privacy vs safety debate.”

Revealed: UK Gov't Plans Publicity Blitz to Undermine Privacy of Your Chats

The UK government is set to launch a multi-pronged publicity attack on end-to-end encryption, Rolling Stone has learned.

www.rollingstone.com

 

[NoXion]

If they're so concerned about children, then it wouldn't it make more sense to have end-to-end encryption only legally available to adults, rather than banning it entirely?

Also, kids shouldn't be on social media anyways. It's a fucking garbage fire even when just adults are involved