British PM wants to ban private messaging services like WhatsApp, Snapchat

The UK Prime Minister David Cameron could ban private messaging services like WhatsApp and Snapchat if his Conservative Party wins the upcoming general election. He plans to not allow encrypted communication that doesn’t provide access or can be read by security services. He told ITV , “I think we cannot allow modern forms of communication to be exempt from the ability, in extremis, with a warrant signed by the home secretary, to be exempt from being listened to. That is my very clear view and if I am Prime Minister after the next election I will make sure we legislate accordingly.”

Quoted by The Independent, while speaking in Paris, he said, “In our country, do we want to allow a means of communication between people which…we cannot read?” It should be noted that late last year, WhatsApp added end-to-end encryption to its messaging service. Many feel that such a move could face a huge backlash. The Next Web points out, “It’s unlikely that the proposals will become law if the Conservatives find themselves in a coalition with the Liberal Democrats again after this year’s general election. If the legislation is pursued as proposed, the move will face serious challenges from civil liberties groups.”