New laws proposed in the UK could normalise surveillance of personal devices, experts have warned.
The concerns stem from a planned update to the Investigatory Powers Act (IPA). When the original rules passed in 2016, critics described them as the “most extreme spying powers ever seen.” They’re now set to become even more intrusive.
Under the new proposals, messaging services would have to clear security features with the government before releasing them. The Home Office could also demand that features are disabled —without telling the public. Apple has threatened to remove FaceTime and iMessage from the UK if the plans are enforced.
Another prominent critic is Harry Halpin, the CEO of Nym Technologies, a privacy startup based in Switzerland. According to Halpin, the rules could lead to “surveillance as the default on everyone’s devices.”
“Secretly toying with security features designed to keep users safe is short-sighted and could be exploited by adversaries, whether they are criminal or political,” he told TNW.
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