Recently, there has been a lot of conversation surrounding encryption and chat services like WhatsApp. Messages sent through WhatsApp are encrypted, meaning that they can't be read by the authorities. End-to-end encryption means that the message can only be read at either end of the conversation - on the device that sent the message, and the device that received it.
Some have suggested that the government be given a backdoor to these services, as this encrypted chat may pose a threat to national security; others claim encryption is a basic necessity for privacy. We've asked our IT support team and web developers what they thought about encryption, and whether encrypted services should have a backdoor.
Dave Park
'I'm all for encryption, but a backdoor for the government is a bit of a grey area. I don't think they should have open access to it, but if it's related to national security they should be able to decrypt it. But they shouldn't be able to do it with just any random phone.'
'It's about context. The provider of the service should be able to pass information to the government, but under very strict laws. I'd say that the only people that will be bothered are the ones that have something to hide. Why would anyone care what I'm having for my tea?'
Jonty Davis
I don't agree with a backdoor to encrypted services. If you open or create a backdoor, then you open it up to extortion. I don't have anything to hide, but I still wouldn't want everyone to have constant access to my phone.
David Wong
I use encryption for some things, but not for everything. My password manager is all encrypted, but my text messages aren't. I don't care so much about those. I don't agree with a backdoor, because I don't trust the people collecting the data. Who's watching the people who have access to my data?
If you're forced to create a backdoor then anyone else would be able to access the the device. If you're forced to create one, what's to stop anyone else going in that way?
Joe Durham
All for encryption, definitely not for a backdoor. I use boxcryptor for my google drive rather than relying on a third party. It's not just the strength of the encryption that's important, it's also how much you trust the companies encrypting your data.
If you put in a backdoor you can't guarantee how its going to be used. You might trust the people who put it there, but if your information ends up in a data centre abroad suddenly those people have access to it too. Some say, 'Well, if you've got nothing to hide...', but what about copies of my passport? That's not secret information, its just information I don't want to share with everyone.
Scott Dewing
I don't care really. I don't even care if someone gets my login information - all they're going to see is how much money I spend on games.
Lee Irving
I strongly disagree with a backdoor for encryption. You always get that, 'I've got nothing to hide' argument, but everyone has curtains in their house - why draw them if you've got nothing to hide?
The services that want this backdoor can access WhatsApp by putting software on the device that's sending or receiving messages. End-to-end encryption only works while the message is being sent, once it's reached its destination you can read it.
There's a Benjamin Franklin quote, 'Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.' I'm fairly certain Franklin wasn't talking about encryption, but it's still pretty relevant.
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