UK: Tech firms threaten to leave over Online Safety Bill

The UK’s Online Safety Bill, which would force messaging apps to access the content of private messages if requested by the regulator Ofcom, has been defended by the technology secretary, Michelle Donelan, who argues that it is necessary to protect children from abuse.

However, tech firms including WhatsApp and Signal have threatened to leave the UK if forced to weaken their messaging security. The bill is due to be passed in the autumn. The government’s proposal to make encrypted messages accessible if there is a risk to children has been criticized by both the tech sector and the cybersecurity community. The argument against this proposal is that once there is a way to access encrypted messages, it can be used by both good and bad actors.

Some firms argue that they will pull their services from the UK rather than compromise on security. Donelan claims that access to encrypted messages would only be requested as a last resort and that technology is being developed to enable encryption while allowing access to information related to child exploitation and abuse. The current frontrunner for this technology is known as Client Side Scanning, which involves installing software onto devices to scan content and send alerts if triggered. The legislation is expected to return to the House of Commons in September.

Why is this important?

While the government emphasizes child safety, critics argue that such measures risk eroding the security and privacy rights of all users. As the legislation returns to the House of Commons in September, this discourse underscores the intricate challenges of managing online safety while upholding encryption standards, potentially setting a precedent for global digital governance debates.