The instant messaging service, WhatsApp (app website here), has announced that it will now have “total encryption” in its service, thus increasing the privacy of the people who use the service (users). But this measure could generate some legal conflicts.
WhatsApp was bought by Facebook in 2014, a social network with over a billion users worldwide, and this announcement was made after a huge controversy where US authorities wanted Apple to unlock an encrypted iPhone.
The co-founders have always prioritised secure communications and encryption in WhatsApp
WhatsApp co-founders Jan Koum and Brian Action revealed on their blog that “WhatsApp has always prioritised making your data and communications as secure as possible”.
It was through this comment that they announced that the app already had total encryption, “And today we are proud to announce that we have completed a technological application that makes WhatsApp a leader in protecting your private communication: total encryption”.
This type of encryption does not allow anyone, other than the message recipient, to see the message. Not even the company itself, nor cyber criminals, or even oppressive governments.
This technology is generating criticism, as this type of encryption can create spaces where the law cannot act to combat criminals and others, being “proof against judicial warrants”.
On the app's co-founders' blog, we can find comments where they say that encryption is essential for users.
“We live in a world where data is digitised like never before…”, and that “Every day we see stories about sensitive data being stolen. And if nothing is done, people's digital information will be more vulnerable to attacks in the coming years. Fortunately, total encryption protects us from these vulnerabilities”, say the app's co-founders.
WhatsApp is also involved in a legal battle over encryption
The app is also involved in a similar legal case to Apple's, where US authorities wanted permission to unlock the iPhone used by the shooters of an attack in San Bernardino, USA.
Some reports say that WhatsApp and Telegram (another messaging app) were used for communications in the attacks that occurred in the city of Paris in November 2015. These attacks caused more than 130 deaths.
Several technology companies and activists are against the imposition of rules on encryption
Several technology organisations and activists are against control over encryption so that law enforcement has special access to enforce the law, since this type of permission will lead to flaws that can be used by malicious people (hackers or criminals) or even more oppressive governments. Banking communications could also be at risk, as well as e-commerce transactions or other types of trade secrets.
WhatsApp is very popular in countries in Latin America, Asia, and also in America where people use this app instead of traditional telecommunications networks.
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