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Ask HN: What are your arguments in favor of end-to-end encryption?
Also, how do you respond when someone brings up concerns of E2EE platforms being used for child sexual abuse imagery or terrorism?
Keep in mind that these arguments have to be made to laypersons, who don't usually have a lot of technical knowledge.
- znpy 7y agoThe very same way I argument against massive surveillance: my country was founded like many other countries by people who rebelled against the oppressor, organised in secret and acted by means of force. Without those people, I wouldn't be a free citizen today. Massive surveillance can neutralise every possibility of fighting against oppression and defend liberty. While I acknowledge that there are bad actors that abuse this freedom, I think it's still worth it.
- sarcasmatwork 7y agoMy first argument, is: Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This may help explain some reasons: https://www.amnestyusa.org/reports/encryption-a-matter-of-human-rights/ https://www.amnestyusa.org/reports/encryption-a-matter-of-hu... "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." -- Benjamin Franklin
- auslegung 7y agoYou’re being watched, monitored, studied, exploited already. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tabVaoeNtdk https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tabVaoeNtdk That’s why.
- Porthos9K 7y agoI tell them I don't care. If they bring up terrorism or child porn, they aren't going to respond to facts. They've already been terrorized into believing that the existing surveillance regime is justified.
- probinso 7y agoYou cannot defend what you cannot precisely define and threat model. Non-secure platforms cannot be defended nor threat modeled. If you send a military/intelligence critical message to someone then you need E2E encryption. In order to asses correctness you need more people to buy in than those only backing military applications. This is found in technologies like TOR which wouldn't be effective it couldn't be used by non-military agents. If there is no need to include the greater community, than there is no pressure on sponsored developers to pursue mathematical correctness.
- 0x54MUR41 7y agoDouble submission: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21156664 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21156664 (3 hours ago with 71 points when this comment is posted).