Last night (Thursday 3 October) the Home Secretary signed an agreement that will
enable British law enforcement to directly ask for electronic
data relating to serious criminals from US tech firms rather than
through governments.
The Home Secretary has also published an open letter to Facebook,
co-signed with US Attorney General William P. Barr, Acting U.S.
Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan and Australia’s
Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton, outlining serious
concerns with the company’s plans to implement end-to-end
encryption across its messaging services.
Responding to this the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for
child protection, Chief Constable , said:
“Technology advances have given criminals easy ways to target and
groom children and vulnerable people online and so quick access
to their communications is vital.
“This evidence can help us secure prosecutions but more
importantly, find victims and end their exploitation. I welcome
this agreement as will law enforcement colleagues around the
country.
“In respect of Facebook if their current policy for end-to-end
encryption is implemented they will knowingly put the safety of
children at risk. They have so far provided no reassurance that
this change will not impede law enforcement and our ability to
target offenders and safeguard children. They have a moral
responsibility to ensure this does not happen.”
