Apple criticises the UK government’s Online Safety Bill
Apple has joined a chorus of disapproval regarding the UK’s controversial Online Safety Bill which would undermine end-to-end encryption (E2EE).
The tech giant published a statement last week urging the government to reconsider its proposals.
The Online Safety Bill will give Ofcom powers to compel online platforms and messaging services to scan content.
The government believes this will help to combat child abuse and other criminal or dangerous actions.
The end-to-end encryption protocols currently in place mean that only the sender and recipient can see messages.
While certain charities have been supportive of the new proposals, Apple is among 80 companies and tech experts that have called for a rethink.
Apple believes E2EE is a “critical capability” that protects the privacy of individuals from the overreach of the state.
It noted: “It also helps everyday citizens defend themselves from surveillance, identity theft, fraud, and data breaches.”
Messaging platforms, including Signal and WhatsApp, have already criticised the proposals.
Signal even threatened to “walk” and pull its services from the UK if it’s forced to weaken encryption.
The government continues to defend the bill, claiming that the new powers would be used judiciously and only as a “last resort”.
It told the BBC that companies should put better systems in place to prevent child sexual abuse if they want encryption to continue.
Digital rights campaigner, The Open Rights Group, strongly opposes the powers.
In a letter sent to Technology Minister Chloe Smith, it stated that the “routine scanning” of messages would set a bad precedent for a supposed liberal democracy.
The letter was signed by 80 organisations and academics.