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1/ The EU Council is preparing a resolution considering “solutions” for authorities to access encrypted data including communications.
Read this thread to understand why #encryption matters to protect people’s privacy and security and why it cannot be undermined.
Read this thread to understand why #encryption matters to protect people’s privacy and security and why it cannot be undermined.
2/ First, a clarification: a resolution is non-binding. Only the EU Commission can propose legislation.
This means that this document is *only* a reflection of ideas by EU states.
It is still relevant as it can influence discussions in the EU & signals the intent of governments.
This means that this document is *only* a reflection of ideas by EU states.
It is still relevant as it can influence discussions in the EU & signals the intent of governments.
3/ Moving to the content:
The EU Council knows that #encryption saves lives.
As the document acknowledges, it “protects governments, critical infrastructures, civil society, citizens and industry.” If governments attempt to break it, we are all at risk.
The EU Council knows that #encryption saves lives.
As the document acknowledges, it “protects governments, critical infrastructures, civil society, citizens and industry.” If governments attempt to break it, we are all at risk.
4/ In the document, the German Presidency called for “technical solutions” to access encrypted data.
While EU governments are not suggesting a ban on #encryption, proposals to break it would in effect put all of us at risk.
While EU governments are not suggesting a ban on #encryption, proposals to break it would in effect put all of us at risk.
5/The suggested legal safeguards do not function and are not enforceable if tech companies are forced to build security flaws in their systems.
You technically cannot both break encryption & keep systems secure. Encryption is necessary to respect and promote privacy & security.
You technically cannot both break encryption & keep systems secure. Encryption is necessary to respect and promote privacy & security.
6/ What information could be unprotected if #encryption of services like WhatsApp or Signal is broken?
Journalists’ conversations with sources
Conversations to organise protests against governments policies on justice reforms, abortion laws, or the rule of law 
& more
Journalists’ conversations with sources Conversations to organise protests against governments policies on justice reforms, abortion laws, or the rule of law & more
7/ To improve security in the EU, law enforcement authorities do not necessarily need more data, but increased cooperation between them on threats and alerts.
The security of our infrastructure also relies on technical standards such as encryption.
The security of our infrastructure also relies on technical standards such as encryption.
8/ We urge the Council to move away from proposals that would undermine #encryption and to conduct more open and transparent conversation on security policies that would include representatives from NGOs and security researchers.
9/9 Link to the document:
https://files.orf.at/vietnam2/files/fm4/202045/783284_fh_st12143-re01en20_783284.pdf
https://files.orf.at/vietnam2/files/fm4/202045/783284_fh_st12143-re01en20_783284.pdf
