Meanwhile, according to a report on the Independent site, things are quite advanced at WhatsApp, with plans underway to encrypt video chats to protect punters. Experts have sided with the tech company, citing privacy and a fear of setting a legal precedent weakening encryption arguments for future cases.
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Speaking to the Times, chief computer scientist Peter Eckersley of nonprofit group Electronic Frontier Foundation said, “The F.B.I. and the Justice Department are just choosing the exact circumstance to pick the fight that looks the best for them”. Jan Koum, the founder of WhatsApp, has said that users should consider security as given and not as a bonus feature. Others have sided with the government, saying that WhatsApp should comply and provide encrypted information when it’s necessary.
All this clearly shows that technology advancements and privacy concerns have not been duly addressed by the government agencies who still rely on their power to run any investigation. Owned by Facebook, WhatsApp messenger is a proprietary cross-platform instant messaging client for smartphones. Further, Snapchat too is working on a secured messaging system, while Google has made it easier for users to send encrypted emails to each other as well.
Though all this remains in the realm of rumors, the increased attention to encryption isn’t surprising in the face of the Apple vs Federal Bureau of Investigation case, which has spurned a national debate over what tech companies argue is the government forcing Apple to weaken its security and threaten the privacy of users.
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However, new encryption efforts could land tech firms in trouble with the United States government. Facebook-owned WhatsApp is aiming at expanding the existing encryption which is available for the text messages to its voice calling features. Facebook is very much invested in Apple’s dispute with the Justice Department, as it itself is involved in an encryption battle of its own with law enforcement.
