EU resolution supports ‘security through encryption’ and ‘security despite encryption’

A resolution of the European Council reiterates strong support for encryption but also requires enabling law enforcement to access content in a readable and usable format where authorisation is lawfully issued. The resolution calls for an active discussion with the technology industry – in particular national and international communication service providers (while also involving research and academia) – on technical solutions and standards for gaining access to encrypted data. Such solutions would, however, have to comply with the principles of legality, transparency, necessity and proportionality, protection of personal data by design and by default. The technical community warns that this is not possible without weakening encryption, while civil society organisations warn about the implications of such an action.