Security News > 2023 > April > International cops urge Meta not to implement secure encryption for all

An international group of law enforcement agencies are urging Meta not to standardize end-to-end encryption on Facebook Messenger and Instagram, which they say will harm their ability to fight child sexual abuse material online.

"The VGT has not yet seen any indication from META that any new safety systems implemented post-E2EE will effectively match or improve their current detection methods," the taskforce said.

Meta's WhatsApp platform has long used E2EE by default, and the company has long said it planned to implement E2EE on Facebook Messenger and Instagram, with most recent estimates indicating E2EE would become the default sometime this year.

"The announced implementation of E2EE on META platforms Instagram and Facebook is an example of a purposeful design choice that degrades safety systems and weakens the ability to keep child users safe," the VGT said.

In an email to The Register, Meta disputed the VGT's claims that Wilson's arrest wouldn't have happened with E2EE in place, telling us it submits CSAM tips using both public and private information.

Without going into any details, Meta told us it's committed to continuing to work with law enforcement as it rolls out E2EE. "We don't think people want us reading their private messages, so have developed safety measures that prevent, detect and allow us to take action against this heinous abuse, while maintaining online privacy and security," a Meta spokesperson told The Register.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2023/04/21/meta_encryption_police/