When companies like WhatsApp announced that they would be decrypting messages sent and received between users, it sounded like a good thing, especially for users concerned about security like hacking and intercepting messages, and also privacy where it would be difficult for them to be spied on.Unfortunately governments around the world don’t seem to be taking too kindly to these efforts, and as we have seen in the past, US law enforcement agencies have tried to decrypt platforms like Apple’s iOS. Now it seems that in Australia, something similar could happen as the Australian government has recently proposed a new cybersecurity law that would force tech companies to decrypt messages upon request by law enforcement, according to a report from the Associated Press.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was quoted as saying in a statement made to reporters, “We’ve got a real problem in that the law enforcement agencies are increasingly unable to find out what terrorists and drug traffickers and pedophile rings are up to because of the very high levels of encryption. Where we can compel it, we will, but we will need the cooperation from the tech companies.”
Whether or not this law will be passed remains to be seen, and if it does, we have to wonder how tech companies such as Apple and Google will react to them.