In the UK, a government-backed campaign called No Place to Hide is putting pressure on Facebook to halt its plans to introduce end-to-end encryption across its platforms. While encryption is a strong measure to protect the privacy of user communications, many experts and advocates fear it could also inadvertently protect child abusers on the platform.

For its part, Facebook has said that it has measures in place to detect child abuse content even if it’s being shared in private messages. However, experts say the benefits of this privacy technology still don’t outweigh the risks.

“When people say this is about privacy, I couldn’t agree more. I have a right to privacy as a survivor of child sexual abuse,” advocate and abuse survivor Rhiannon-Faye McDonald told The Guardian. “My abuse was recorded with photos and videos which may be out there now, as I speak. We want an assurance that E2EE [end-to-end encryption] will not enable and make it easier for child sex abusers to harm children either directly by finding and grooming them, or indirectly by circulating child sexual abuse material.”

Facebook is dealing with similar pressure here in the U.S. to stop working on its encryption feature, so time will tell if the company actually proceeds. But if it doesn’t, hopefully it can find another way to safeguard users’ messages.

Recommended Resources

The Choice of Tech Experts Worldwide. Try 90 days free of Bitdefender and experience the highest level of digital safety.

Surf the web truly incognito. Try Bitdefender Premium VPN, the ultra-fast VPN that keeps your online identity and activities safe from hackers, ISPs and snoops.

System Mechanic 14 – Make your computer run like new. Winner of 200+ Editor’s Choice awards!