In today’s digital sphere, where data breaches and hacks are taking center stage, end-to-end encryption is the only way to be confident that your sensitive information remains private. Without end-to-end encryption, your details and messages are vulnerable and can be exploited.
Unfortunately, several countries worldwide are on a mission to remove end-to-end encryption from various platforms like messaging apps so that they can monitor all communications for illegal content. They also claim that end-to-end encryption protects information that can help law enforcement.
Here’s the main argument: while end-to-end encryption is vital to the privacy and safety of the user, it hampers the attribution and prosecution of criminals who rely on encryption.
So, what comes first? Is it your safety and privacy online or the need for law enforcement to monitor communications to maintain order? This article looks to break down the issue and what’s essential.
Why Does End-to-End Encryption Matter?
End-to-end encryption means that your messages are all encrypted and can be decrypted by only the intended recipient. That way, nobody in between (not even the company facilitating the communication) can read your messages.
Therefore, the main purpose of encryption is privacy and security. Without it, any data you transmit online is vulnerable and can be seen by third parties. It helps to protect your personal information, health records, financial data, and several other sensitive communications from Big Brother.
Ideally, end-to-end encryption uses an algorithm that converts the original message into some unreadable format. Only the intended recipient has the key to unlock the unreadable text.
It’s easy to say that encryption makes greater safety possible, not vice versa. Most people fear losing control of personal data to hackers, a worse outcome than the purported risks that come with end-to-end encryption.
Interestingly, Meredith Whittaker, president of Signal, argues that there’s no evidence as far as history is concerned that mass surveillance has led to safety. Centralized surveillance is currently even more pervasive than ever.
Therefore, there’s no need to implement “backdoors” or even grant law enforcement access to encrypted content. Furthermore, client-side scanning is unacceptable, especially from a privacy perspective.
Recently, it has been proposed as a potential option for scanning messages before they’re sent; suspicious content is flagged for additional review. Since the scans still compromise the encryption, encryption alongside client-side scanning makes no sense.
Demand Nothing Less
The risks are real, and when using messaging apps such as email or any other digital service in communication or simply storing sensitive data, the expectation of privacy never fails. Therefore, every user deserves a tool that offers the highest levels of privacy and security for their ever-increasing digital lives.
It’s a no-brainer then that you shouldn’t settle for anything less than end-to-end encryption. You must demand that tech companies prioritize security and privacy to protect personal data at any cost.
Otherwise, without encryption, any sensitive data you share online is vulnerable. Think about your passwords, private conversations, financial data, and even health information that could be easily accessed by abusive partners, hackers, or even overreaching governments.
Therefore, it’s paramount that you get nothing less than end-to-end encryption, as it helps mitigate various risks like stalking, identity theft, and state-sponsored surveillance, among others. When discussing your digital privacy, you should demand maximum protection.
Countries that Threaten End-to-End Encryption
Some countries are working hard to end. In such regions, the laws will require tech companies to create or even use third-party technologies to effectively scan all the messages on devices if they want to continue using end-to-end encryption.
Therefore, it’s simple: companies remove encryption entirely or incorporate scanning technology, which poses privacy concerns.
In the United Kingdom, their online safety bill is almost becoming a law, whereby all messaging companies must identify child abuse content that’s sent effectively. That way, the UK will have to weaken their privacy.
Australia passed the Assistance and Access Act, which allows the government to ensure that companies present user data even when it is end-to-end protected.
Conclusion
It’s simple; end-to-end encryption should merely be non-negotiable, especially in today’s digital world. Therefore, you shouldn’t settle for less when protecting your online security and privacy. You should be demanding complete end-to-end encryption from all the services that you use to make sure that your data, as well as communications, remain private.