3 ms·

The same way you prevent anything.. they make it illegal for people in the UK to make, or use, such products. Don't think we can "tech" our way out of this.

fwn 10y ago
Not "we" as in "we the general public with no specific interest in staying hidden". But of course criminals, terrorists or secret services do have the right incentive structure to always benefit from circumventing encryption bans.
- nine_k 10y ago
  Which shows who the real target is.
eterm 10y ago
Exactly, and given we live in a "walled garden" society now, all they need to do is require google or apple to remove from the app stores any app that implements encryption for messaging. It's actually easier than ever to ban encryption for messaging. Would that stop determined people? No, but it's never been about that anyway. Just make the pool small enough and it becomes too difficult to use. (See PGP / email). Also, if you genuinely legislate against encrypted messaging then it's easy to pick up on the relative handful of people who go outside the app stores to get encrypted messaging applications. And it shouldn't come to technical solutions, we should have people challenge the notion that two people should never be allowed to share a private message, because that's why Rudd and the government is suggesting.
- brokenmachine 10y ago
  > we should have people challenge the notion that two people should never be allowed to share a private message, because that's why Rudd and the government is suggesting. +1. This is the crux of the matter, although unfortunately I don't think the average person realises it.
stale2002 10y ago
Tell that to the pirate bay. Just because something is illegal doesn't mean it is enforceable.
- Asdfbla 10y ago
  Well, the Pirate Bay probably never really caught the interest of totalitarian states that really wanted to suppress its existence. Now, the UK isn't at that point obviously, but if they really wanted to use draconian measures against encryption, it probably would be somewhat effective.

fwn 10y ago

Not "we" as in "we the general public with no specific interest in staying hidden". But of course criminals, terrorists or secret services do have the right incentive structure to always benefit from circumventing encryption bans.

nine_k 10y ago
Which shows who the real target is.

eterm 10y ago

Exactly, and given we live in a "walled garden" society now, all they need to do is require google or apple to remove from the app stores any app that implements encryption for messaging. It's actually easier than ever to ban encryption for messaging. Would that stop determined people? No, but it's never been about that anyway. Just make the pool small enough and it becomes too difficult to use. (See PGP / email). Also, if you genuinely legislate against encrypted messaging then it's easy to pick up on the relative handful of people who go outside the app stores to get encrypted messaging applications. And it shouldn't come to technical solutions, we should have people challenge the notion that two people should never be allowed to share a private message, because that's why Rudd and the government is suggesting.

brokenmachine 10y ago
> we should have people challenge the notion that two people should never be allowed to share a private message, because that's why Rudd and the government is suggesting. +1. This is the crux of the matter, although unfortunately I don't think the average person realises it.

stale2002 10y ago

Tell that to the pirate bay. Just because something is illegal doesn't mean it is enforceable.

Asdfbla 10y ago
Well, the Pirate Bay probably never really caught the interest of totalitarian states that really wanted to suppress its existence. Now, the UK isn't at that point obviously, but if they really wanted to use draconian measures against encryption, it probably would be somewhat effective.