He end-to-end encryption It is a very common security measure in current messaging applications. WhatsApp uses it to protect our conversations, although it is true that you can access it in some cases. Despite the fact that it is an essential feature for users, Europe has been debating its validity for a few years.
The conversations continue and the document leaked by Wired gives us some information about this possibility. It is precisely our country that is most in agreement with the weakening of this security protocol. Now, we tell you All the details.
An option more real than ever
For years, Europe has had this proposal on the table: weaken end-to-end encryption for necessary cases, for example those related to child pornography. This was confirmed by Ylva Johansson, European Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, commenting that abusers “hide behind end-to-end encryption.”
Contrary to what we might think, most European countries are in favor, or this is demonstrated by the document that is still a survey to find out the position of the members. Of a total of 20 countries, up to 15 would agree on the regulation of this encryption. Said regulation would consist of bypassing encryption to search for illegal content and thus stop child pornography.
As we mentioned, Spain shows its opinion through the Minister of the Interior, a Fernando Grande-Marlaska who takes a position: “it is imperative that we have access to the data” while “we have the ability to analyze it.” In addition, he considers it “desirable” that all service providers based in the EU they can’t implement it.
However, organizations have begun to criticize this possibility. This is where Chat Control comes into play, a name to label the ‘Regulations establishing standards to prevent and combat sexual abuse of minors’ (CSAR). This could end confidentiality of communications in the European Union.
In fact, the favorable majority points to reviewing the talks for the aforementioned purpose, but they don’t want to break the encryption as is, but to apply some technology that works on the user’s device. In this sense, the Netherlands highlights the existence of technologies that detect CSAM while not altering end-to-end encryption. The problem: no one trusts this type of technology.
Finland, on the other hand, comments on its interest in obtaining more information about this process, since affecting the security of our communications would be something against your constitution. The same thing happens in our country, alluding to article 18 of the Spanish Constitution, which says “the secrecy of communications is guaranteed”.
The official Regulation of the European Union does not propose to erase this encryption from the map, but some protagonists do not agree, such as Ylva Johansson or the Spanish Javier Zarzalejos. Be that as it may, this occurs at the same time as the UK proposal and his ‘Online Safety Bill’, something that is aimed at the same company.
Cover Image | Pixabay
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