Tom Tugendhat says the tech giants' measures are wrong. Photo: David Rose
Facebook and Instagram will leave children vulnerable to abuse if they move forward with end-to-end encryption, the security secretary warned in a latest statement.
In an article for The Telegraph, Tom Tugendhat, Conservative MP from Tonbridge and Mulling, Kent, told the internet giants that with «influence comes responsibility,» as he urged them to change course.
The intervention comes after a group of 15 law enforcement agencies around the world released a joint statement , which called on Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.
The company is implementing so-called end-to-end encryption for its service, which makes the passage of information more secure, but also makes it more difficult for the police to access.
Critics argue that the failure to leave secure «back doors» to the system is wrong. Proponents have said that any such hotspots would leave messages vulnerable to hackers.
Mr Tugendhat refers to interference from the so-called Virtual Global Task Force (VGT) in his article, cautioning Meta against the approach it is taking.
This is not a binary choice
He writes: “The UK stands for privacy, innovation and security. We believe in privacy because we believe in freedom and that won't change.
“But it's wrong to present it as a binary choice. We don't have to choose between the benefits of end-to-end encryption and child safety — we can have both, and we should have both.
«Together with the Task Force, we are calling on companies like Meta , implement strong security systems that maintain or enhance the safety of children along with end-to-end encryption.
“Companies like Meta have amassed tremendous power and influence over our lives. With that influence comes responsibility. It is unacceptable for tech executives to profit hugely from their youngest users by refusing to protect them.
“Abuse will not stop just because tech companies decide to stop looking. We won't look away. Neither should they.”
VGT members include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the UK National Crime Agency and the International Criminal Police Organization.
The group said in a statement that Meta's encryption plans for Facebook and Instagram are an example of «deliberate design choices that degrade security systems and weaken the ability to keep child users safe.»
«Abuse will not stop»
The VGA said in a statement: “Where there is a high user base and risk to children, proportionate investment and the implementation of technically feasible security solutions are paramount. Abuse will not stop just because companies decide to stop looking.
«We all have a role to play in protecting children online, and we urge industry partners to take proactive steps to achieve this.»
Elsewhere in his Telegraph op-ed, Mr Tugendhat says: “We know that child sex workers use sites like Facebook and Instagram to easily locate, stalk, nurture and exploit children without even leaving the platform.” .
After the VGT statement, the Financial Times quoted a Meta spokesperson as saying: “The vast majority of Britons already rely on applications that use encryption. We don't think people want us to read their private messages, so we've put in place security measures that prevent, detect, and allow us to take action against this heinous breach while keeping your online privacy and security safe.
«As we continue to roll out our end-to-end encryption plans, we remain committed to working with law enforcement and child safety experts to keep our platforms safe for young people.»
«Meta's plans could put an end to predator attacks.» youth.
Technology is changing lives. He opens the world from our homes and opens our homes to the world. It has already changed childhood.
While technology connects us to the world around us and allows us to share family moments, build our networks and friendships, it can also be used by perpetrators of child sexual abuse to befriend, gain trust, manipulate and groom their victims.
Over the past decade, tens of millions of the most horrific images and videos of child sexual exploitation have been posted online. Every year, tech companies identify many and report them to law enforcement, but tragically new ones are being created at an unprecedented rate.
These images and videos capture the most horrific examples of human suffering and desperation. The young people they represent are among the most vulnerable and defenseless members of our society, suffering a degradation that will leave a scar on their lives.
We know that people who have sex with children use these sites like Facebook and Instagram to easily discover, target, nurture and use kids without leaving the platform.
Our law enforcement agencies work tirelessly to prosecute offenders and protect children from sexual abuse. Tech companies also play an important role in supporting law enforcement as they combat the unprecedented levels of child sexual abuse happening on their platforms.
Companies like Meta, which own Facebook and Instagram, regularly scan their platforms to find and report child sexual abuse material to law enforcement. The information they provide protects about 1,000 children every month and leads to 800 arrests. This may change soon.
Meta's plans to roll out end-to-end encryption may mean their ability to detect and stop abominable and predatory behavior on their platforms will be lost.
Agencies around the world
That's why today the Virtual Global Task Force, a grouping of 15 law enforcement agencies from around the world that includes the UK NCA, released a statement outlining the disruptive impact end-to-end encryption is having on law enforcement's ability to keep our children safe.
VGT states that it sees no indication from Facebook and Instagram that any new security systems implemented since the rollout of end-to-end encryption will effectively match or improve on their current detection methods.
The UK stands for privacy, innovation and security. We believe in privacy because we believe in freedom and that won't change.
But it's wrong to present it as a binary choice. We don't have to choose between the benefits of end-to-end encryption and child safety — we can have both, and really should have both.
Together with the Task Force, we are calling on companies like Meta to implementation of strong security systems that maintain or enhance the safety of children along with end-to-end encryption.
Companies like Meta have amassed tremendous power and influence over our lives. With that influence comes responsibility. It is unacceptable for tech executives to profit hugely from their youngest users by refusing to protect them.
Abuse will not stop just because tech companies decide to stop looking. We won't look away. Neither should they.
Tom Tugendhat
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