Conversation

Notices

1. Embed this notice
   HebrideanHecate (hebrideanhecate@spinster.xyz)'s status on Friday, 10-Jul-2026 02:16:31 JST HebrideanHecate

   https://thecritic.co.uk/the-end-of-encrypted-europe/

   But apart from the fact that blunt instruments may do more harm than good, there is also the risk of Chat Control being expanded in the future — for example to police free speech. Sadly, in today’s Europe, where people are being prosecuted merely for insulting politicians, it is hardly irrational to fear for such “function creep”. At least, it has been heartening to see the extent of opposition throughout Europe, both from the right and the left. Even corporates have voiced their disagreement: for example, Meredith Whittaker, President of the encrypted messaging app Signal, has warned that her company will “leave the EU market rather than undermine our privacy guarantees.”

   Evidently, criminals will find ways to circumvent such scanning by WhatsApp or Messenger by switching to other platforms that, temporarily or for a long period of time, manage to stay under the radar and continue to offer encryption without scanning. They may simply move to underground platforms altogether permanently. In practice, as opponents have maintained, it will be ordinary people that will be monitored.

   • KeepTakingTheSoma likes this.
   • Embed this notice
     KeepTakingTheSoma (keeptakingthesoma@spinster.xyz)'s status on Friday, 10-Jul-2026 02:18:08 JST KeepTakingTheSoma

     in reply to
     @HebrideanHecate I always find it confusing that governments have powers to prevent us from using the internet to criticise them, but never have the power to prevent the internet from distributing child pornography.
     Whatever could that mean?
   • Embed this notice
     HebrideanHecate (hebrideanhecate@spinster.xyz)'s status on Friday, 10-Jul-2026 02:40:55 JST HebrideanHecate

     in reply to

     • KeepTakingTheSoma

     @KeepTakingTheSoma Curious indeed.

     KeepTakingTheSoma likes this.