What is more important - Privacy or national securityIJ This debate was again started last week with WhatsApp announcing that it had implemented full end-to-end encryption on its platform.
In layman's terms, 'full end-to-end encryption' means that it would not be possible, in general, to hack the messages sent by one subscriber to another.
"We're proud to announce that we've completed a technological development that makes WhatsApp a leader in protecting your private communication: full end-to-end encryption," said a statement. It means that "when you send a message, the only person who can read it is the person or group chat that you send that message to," the statement said. "No one can see inside that message. Not cybercriminals. Not hackers. Not oppressive regimes. Not even us."
The statement by the company does not point out that when terrorists and other anti social elements use it for their nefarious activities, no one would be able to see inside their messages and take proactive measures to stop such activities.
Now, the question is who needs this kind of protectionIJ Do ordinary consumers of WhatsApp who send harmless jokes and information need this kind of encryptionIJ Or terrorists and anti-social elements need it so that they can avoid law enforcing agenciesIJ
I am sure NGOs, Civil liberties and activists will come in support of WhatsApp. After all, everyone needs privacy in a civilized world. Citizens in an "Oppressive regime" need privacy. So do criminals in a 'democratic society'. Oppressive regimes monitor activities of their citizens. In democratic countries, law enforcing agencies need to decipher messages sent by criminals and terrorists. So the question is privacy at what costIJ Can privacy be more important than national securityIJ Or is it immoral for law enforcing agencies to tarck the activities of criminals through messages like WhatsAppIJ
I fail to understand why the issue of privacy assumes importance only in the case of data (ie, text messages, images, video etc). Why there is no debate when the Governments all over the world tap phone callsIJ Why there are no Civil societies and NGOs and activists against phone tappingIJ
It would be naïve to assume that the USA Government does not have capability of deciphering the messages of WhatsApp. The USA Government was responsible for phone and email tapping of important people in a large number of countries, including USA. It was supported by their companies. Is USA an oppressive regimeIJ
One can't stop the march of technology. Communication has changed drastically in last a few decades. There would be new ways of communication. Today, text has become as important as voice. A few years later a new technology would give a new definition of privacy. There has to be a balance between privacy and security.
(The writer is a Senior Journalist)