Europol boss again calls for access to encrypted messages
Tech companies would have to give investigative authorities access to encrypted content, otherwise European democracy is at risk, said Europol boss Catherine de Bolle compared to the Financial Times On the edge of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The companies would have a “social responsibility” and would have to meet the long -term demand for access to encrypted news, demanded de Bolle. These would be used by criminals to remain anonymous, according to the director of the EU police authority. During the week, she will meet in Davos with representatives: inside of Big Tech company to discuss the matter directly with them.
“Anonymity is not a fundamental right,” said de Bolle. “If we have a search order and stand in front of a house that is closed and we know that the criminal is in the house, the population will not accept that we will not get in.” Police would have to be able to decipher confidential news in the fight against crime, otherwise “democracy could not be enforced”.
Decades of debate
Investigative authorities have been encryption for decades Dorn in the side. Under the motto „Going Dark“ Fear of becoming blind and deaf when criminal modern encryption methods use. They are now far from them More data for police work than ever. In addition, offensive methods such as state trojans are now part of a standard tool for many investigations. In order not to be immediately closed, it can be used Targeted to encrypted content access.
Trotz persistent effortThe police and secret services have so far not been able to prevail with their demand. How Expert: tirelessly emphasize insidewould endanger the IT security of the entire digital ecosystem. Finally, the same technology that can sometimes be used by criminals protects the confidential communication of citizens: inside or safe connections to online shops, banks and critical infrastructure.
The IT industry itself has hardly been impressed by the constant saber rattling of the authorities. In order to protect the privacy of their users: inside, encrypted hard drives are now part of the basic setting of many operating systems. End-to-end encryption has become an integral part of numerous messengers, including at Apple's iMessage, Metas WhatsApp or in the non-commercial signal messenger. Also the Messenger from Facebook now relies on safe technology, although the authorities like the FBI with all their strength tried to prevent.
CCC: Encryption protects democracy
“It is amazing to speak of 'social responsibility' here when there is a row back in essential positions such as fact checks,” says Elina Eickstädt, spokeswoman for the Chaos Computer Club (CCC). Most recently, large online providers such as META and X have loosened their moderation rules, which Expert: According to the inside, dramatic consequences worldwide To the promotion of genocides could have.
Instead of less, more measures are needed to protect democracy, demands Eickstädt. Confidential and encrypted communication is the only thing that remains to protect those affected from repression, according to the CCC spokeswoman. “It provides an important tool for solidarity and civil society commitment, which we need more than ever today.”
Initiatives at EU level
Europol had in the previous year In a report a “constructive discussion about encryption” required and insisted on “access to encrypted communication and its admissibility as evidence in legal proceedings”. The latter refers to the continued continued legal arguments Around spectacular hacks of providers like EncroChat or Sky ECC. These had offered criminal -tailored, encrypted communication platforms, but were ultimately infiltrated by investigative authorities and pulled out of circulation.
Also in the previous year, a working group set up by the EU had pushed to access encrypted content. The almost exclusively from the Safety apparatus had advised for a good two years about how the phenomenon of the “Going Dark” can be countered. Compared to an earlier one Recommendation paper fell that Final report Although noticeably weakened, it did not move away from the core claim.
The group's report is likely to be included in the work of the EU Commission newly appointed in winter. This has been trying for years with the highly controversial Chat control indirectly access to actually encrypted content to enable. However, she has not been able to box through her bill to this day.
While the EU Parliament rejects access to confidential communication, the EU countries have not yet been able to agree on a common position. Meanwhile, for example, Apple has a voluntary move towards Chat control withdrawn. It is “practically impossible” to combine automatic scans of confidential news with privacy and security, according to the company.
