Social media company Meta has come under fire as Europe’s chief of police ramps up pressure on governments and tech companies over its use of end-to-end encryption to protect email and messaging services.
Police chiefs from 32 countries, including the UK, said in a statement on April 21 that tech companies are deploying end-to-end encryption in ways that undermine law enforcement’s ability to investigate crimes.
The intervention comes as Congress is in the final stages of introducing new powers under the Investigatory Powers Act that will allow technology companies to deploy end-to-end encryption without backdoor access. It is claimed that it can prevent
The National Crime Agency names Mehta’s plans to introduce end-to-end encryption on Facebook and Instagram’s services, which could result in the loss of millions of reports of suspected child abuse each year. There is growing concern that there is.
Graham Biggar, head of the NCA, said that while encryption is highly beneficial and can protect the public from crime, technology companies are putting people at risk with the “blatant and increasingly widespread” rollout of end-to-end encryption. He said that he was exposed to
“They can’t protect their customers because they can no longer see illegal activity on their systems. Child abuse doesn’t stop just because companies stop investigating,” he said.
The NCA claims that if Meta continues with its plans to offer encrypted services on Instagram and Facebook, a “vast majority” of suspicious activity reports provided to UK police will be lost.
Mehta is responsible for the majority of suspicious activity referrals by technology companies to the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NMEC).
Content on Facebook and Instagram helps UK police protect 1,200 children and arrest 800 suspects every month.
Europe’s police chiefs also say that end-to-end encryption not only makes it harder for tech companies to see what is being sent to their networks, but also makes it harder for law enforcement to investigate serious crimes. It also warns that tech companies’ ability to legally access their data will be hampered. .
The declaration, ratified by 32 European police forces in London and published on April 21, states that police forces should not be forced to choose between cybersecurity, privacy and public safety. It is said that
“Our view is that technical solutions exist. We just need flexibility, not only in government but also in industry. Recognizing that solutions will vary from function to function and from platform to platform. ”
“Therefore, we urge the technology industry to build security by design, identify and report harmful and illegal activity such as child sexual exploitation, and act lawfully and exceptionally under lawful authority. We ask that you maintain your capacity.”
Catherine de Bord, Director General of Europol, said: “Our homes are now more dangerous than our streets as crime moves online. To keep our societies and people safe, we must: We need to protect this digital environment.”
“Technology companies have a social responsibility to develop a safer environment in which law enforcement and justice agencies can operate. They will not be able to protect themselves from their victims,” she added.
The declaration followed an informal meeting of Europol chiefs organized by the National Crime Agency on 18 April. It has been ratified by the UK, 27 EU member states, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
