For years, communications encryption has been in the heart of a debate. It allows to obtain exchanges in applications such as WhatsApp or Signal, with messages that can only be accessed for conversation participants.
But if it helps protect users’ privacy, it is also a source of concern, since it prevents the police from intercepting the messages of criminals. Although the laws established by the countries represent a threat to encryption, the Federal Commerce Commission (FTC), the Consumer Protection Agency in the United States has reminded several companies its obligations in terms of privacy and data security of Americans.
Do not yield to the pressures
In a letter sent to Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Signal and other companies that offer encryption systems, the FTC Commissioner, Andrew N. Ferguson, encourages them not to yield to the pressure of foreign governments. “Recently they multiplied attempts to press their business to censor a certain content or weaken the user’s security of their services,” punishes in his letter.
The commissioner refers significantly to the request of the British government to weaken the figure to allow the police to access user data. In January, he asked Apple to create a “stolen door” on iPhone, Macbook and iPad. A request to which the company opposed, before the United Kingdom decided to give up the pressure of Washington.
Andrew N. Ferguson also criticizes the online British Security Law, “which forces platforms to” protect “users against any damage by detecting and eliminating” illegal content. “The regulations of European digital services (DSA) are also in their viewfinder, the commissioner accuses him of” encouraging companies to censure speeches, including those that remain out of Europe. “
Do not deceive consumers
For Andrew N. Ferguson, these measures are likely to undermine the freedoms of Americans, but also expose them “to many dangers, such as the surveillance of foreign governments.”
In his letter, he also warns interested companies, warning them that when complying with the requirements of these countries, they run the risk of breaking article 5 of the Law of the Federal Trade Commission. This law prohibits unfair or misleading practices in commerce or affecting it.
“If a company promises consumers that it calculates or guarantees the safety of online communications, but adopts lower security due to the actions of a foreign government, such conduct can deceive consumers who legitimately expect effective security and not to the greatest vulnerability to the rapes or interceptions desired by foreign power,” said the commissioner.
In other words, in the event that Apple, Meta and other societies seek to comply with the laws of other countries, they must still be careful not to break those of the FTC. A reminder to the order that undoubtedly shows the evolution of the reflection of the United States on the subject. The FBI, for example, only denounced a few years ago the encryption of the beginning at the end of communications, demanding the establishment of stolen doors … times change, unless they are objective.
Source: BFM TV
