By Chathushka Perera
New Deli, India (CWBN)_ In a statement issued on the 11th of October, governments from six countries, including the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, India and Japan, have urged tech service providers, who feature data encryption, to take steps to grant access to local law enforcement authorities with a “backdoor” to access the data once an warrant is issued.
It has been acknowledged, the importance of encryption carried toward freedom of expression, especially in the atmosphere of the United Nations Human Rights Commission Report 2017, which criticizes any governmental or private action that would “intentionally prevent or disrupt access to or dissemination of information online in violation of international human rights law”, and further expands on it as follows:
“Intentional prevention or disruption of access includes any action that shuts down or renders ineffective access to telecommunications networks, mobile services, social media platforms and so forth.”
The report was compiled based on submissions and reports submitted by member states, non-governmental organisations and civil society, academics and other private interest groups. The statement attempts to justify the need for backdoor access, irrespective of the gravity of the request.
Nonetheless, tech companies have responded with a cold shoulder, but it remains a point of interest that ought to be monitored over the months to come.
