The competition watchdog has urged action on digital platforms to protect Australians’ privacy and give media companies more bargaining power.
Camera IconThe competition watchdog has urged action on digital platforms to protect Australians’ privacy and give media companies more bargaining power. Credit: Supplied/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Gett

Facebook firmly against data access push

AAPWestern Suburbs Weekly

TECH giant Facebook has defended encrypted messaging in the face of a multi-government bid to access online information as part of a crusade against child abuse.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has penned an open letter to Facebook along with US Attorney-General William Barr, acting US Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan and UK Home Secretary Priti Patel.

Mr Dutton is in Washington as he continues his crusade against the circulation of child pornography.

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He says it’s time for Facebook to pick a side.

“You’re either on the side of vulnerable children or not,” he said in a statement.

“All companies, including Facebook, must have zero-tolerance when it comes to child exploitation and not allow their platforms to facilitate these sick crimes.”

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton. Photo: AAP
Camera IconHome Affairs Minister Peter Dutton. Photo: AAP Credit: Supplied/AAPIMAGE

Facebook’s WhatsApp uses so-called end-to-end encryption, which locks up messages so that even Facebook can’t read their contents.

The company plans to extend that protection to Facebook Messenger and Instagram messages over the next couple of years.

But it already culls a huge number of accounts and chat groups for suspicious activity, without being able to see message content.

The governments want tech giants to give police access to such content in a “readable and usable format”.

The ministers say they support strong encryption, but they want access to messages that could be used as evidence against criminals.

“Companies should not deliberately design their systems to preclude any form of access to content, even for preventing or investigating the most serious crimes,” the letter says.

“Risks to public safety from Facebook’s proposals are exacerbated in the context of a single platform that would combine inaccessible messaging services with open profiles, providing unique routes for prospective offenders to identify and groom our children.”

Stock image.
Camera IconStock image. Credit: Supplied/Getty Images

But the tech giant says people have the right to hold private conversations online, no matter where they live in the world.

“We strongly oppose government attempts to build backdoors because they would undermine the privacy and security of people everywhere,” a Facebook spokesman said.

“End-to-end encryption already protects the messages of over a billion people every day.

“It is increasingly used across the communications industry and in many other important sectors of the economy.”

Australian law enforcement can already use warrants to access metadata and details about messages, but not the written content.