If Five Eyes countries move to ban encryption completely, it would mean an end to online commerce and communication as we know it: everything from online shopping to banking to sending private messages would no longer function securely.
And if they seek to force companies to build ‘back doors’, any ‘master key’ built to give access to security services would immediately become a target for hackers. In fact, security experts say that secure ‘back doors’ are technologically impossible.1
Public pressure can make the difference. After significant pushback from advocates and concerned individuals, Apple has recently temporarily paused its own plan to break encryption by creating a permanent backdoor on its iOS devices.2, 3
Government ministers of the Five Eyes have not yet revealed exactly how they plan to crush encryption, but their intentions are clear.4 They need to hear from ordinary people from all around the world. Sign the global call now to protect our right to encryption!
Encryption in the Five Eyes countries:
Australia
Australia data encryption laws explained: BBC
Australian PM Calls for End-to-End Encryption Ban, Says the Laws of Mathematics Don't Apply Down Under: EFF
Australia passes ‘dangerous’ anti-encryption law after bipartisan compromise: TechCrunch
Canada
Five Eyes agree to engage with industry on terrorists’ use of encryption: Globe and Mail
Canada’s New and Irresponsible Encryption Policy: CitizenLab
The Liberal government’s vision for your privacy seems to be quite private, itself: The Globe and Mail
Government’s encryption proposal will undermine public safety: The Star
New Zealand
Calls for strong encryption in 'Five Eyes' countries: RNZ
Why you'll be sorry when encryption is broken: NZ Herald
United Kingdom
Apple and WhatsApp condemn GCHQ plans to eavesdrop on encrypted chats: The Guardian
UK home secretary Amber Rudd says 'real people' don't need end-to-end encryption: Business Insider
Theresa May’s crackdown on the internet will let terror in the backdoor: The Guardian
The UK is trying to stop Facebook’s end-to-end Encryption: WIRED
United States
Trump officials weigh encryption crackdown: Politico
US efforts to regulate encryption have been flawed, government report finds: The Guardian
The EARN IT Act is a sneak attack on encryption: WIRED
Bugs in our pockets: The risks of client-side scanning: Lawfare