David Cameron wants to ban Snapchat, other chat apps in UK

Henry Cooke

Use Snapchat or WhatsApp to keep in touch with British relatives? You might want to enjoy that while it lasts.

As the British general election campaign begins and European tension mounts over the recent Paris attacks, Prime Minister David Cameron has suggested banning encrypted messaging services if British intelligence agencies were not allowed access to the communications. Snapchat, Apple's iMessage, and WhatsApp all encrypt the messages sent through their applications, along with innumerable other services.

"Are we going to allow a means of communications which it simply isn't possible to read?" he asked during a campaign speech. "My answer to that is: 'No, we must not.'"

Cameron suggested the measures would come as part of large-scale surveillance legislation which his Conservative government would implement if re-elected.

The Telegraph notes that companies such as WhatsApp have generally remained committed to keeping their services encrypted, making the ban more likely.

Cameron has previously attempted to block all online porn in Britain by default.

How such a ban on so many popular services would be implemented remains unclear. The services concerned are yet to comment.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/david-cameron-wants-to-ban-snapchat-other-chat-apps-in-uk-20150113-12n14v.html