We could soon be in for a new round of the encryption wars, but this time governments are taking a different approach.
Seven governments from across the world have started a new campaign to try persuade big tech companies to reduce the level of security they offer to customers using their services.
The seven -- US, UK, Canada, Australia , New Zealand, India and Japan -- are worried that the use of end-to-end encryption[1] makes it impossible for tech companies to identify dangerous content like terrorist propaganda and attack planning, and makes it harder for police to investigate serious crimes and protect national security.
Their statement starts boldly[2]: "We, the undersigned, support strong encryption", saying that it plays a crucial role in protecting personal data, privacy, intellectual property, trade secrets and cyber security, and in repressive states protects journalists, human rights defenders and other vulnerable people.
Then, of course, comes the big caveat: "We urge industry to address our serious concerns where encryption is applied in a way that wholly precludes any legal access to content." The sort of end-to-end encryption that means messages can't be intercepted, or that a hard drive can never be read without the key, "pose significant challenges to public safety", the seven governments warn.
This of course is where things get trickier. These governments want tech companies to make it possible to act against illegal content and activity, but with no reduction to safety -- something that tech companies insist is impossible.
"We challenge the assertion that public safety cannot be protected without compromising privacy or cyber security. We strongly believe that approaches protecting each of these important values are possible and strive to work with industry to collaborate on mutually agreeable solutions," the statement concludes.
Tech companies argue