One of WhatsApp's selling points is that it comes with end-to-end (E2E) encryption. However, the United Kingdom's proposed Online Safety Bill might get in the way of that. This might affect the platform's availability since WhatsApp refuses to comply with the bill.
WhatsApp Security Compromised
The appeal of end-to-end encryption is that only the people in communication can read or listen to the contents of the conversation. This is now somewhat of a luxury given that threat actors are capable of communication exchanges if the security is weak.
The Online Safety Bill is created following arguments from the UK government and some child-protection charities about online child abuse, which has been a growing problem considering the accessibility of online messaging platforms.
If the bill does come to implementation, it may be able to force WhatsApp to create and apply content moderation policies, as mentioned in MacRumors. This will require them to have access to conversations and remove E2E encryption.
If WhatsApp chooses to comply, then it will lose a valued feature which might cost them many users. If not, the platform could be fined which will also cost them up to 4% of Meta's annual turnover. Of course, blocking the app from the UK entirely is still an option.
Head of WhatsApp Will Cathcart said that it would refuse to comply should the government ask them to weaken its security. He mentioned that 98% of WhatsApp users are outside of the UK, and they also refuse to lower the security of the product.
Cathcart also expressed that the app would rather accept being blocked in the UK, citing Iran as an example given that they have been blocked in the country and that they have never seen a liberal democracy do that.
Reports say that seven out of ten adults online use WhatsApp as a messaging platform, making it the most popular in the UK. The app being blocked would greatly affect the users in the country, but it will only affect two percent of WhatsApp overall users worldwide.
Online Safety Bill
The Online Safety Bill is a set of laws proposed by the UK government so social media platforms can better protect their users online. This will place a huge responsibility on the shoulders of social media companies, and in the case of WhatsApp, lower their security.
For protecting children, it will immediately remove illegal content before it can even appear, including those that promote self-harm. It will also enforce age limits and age-checking measures to make sure that the user is an actual adult.
This can be essential to make sure that underaged users will not be able to access harmful and age-inappropriate content. It will also provide accessible ways to report problems if they are encountered within the platform.
The online safety laws will also require social media platforms to be more strict about not allowing users that are under the age of 13 to have accounts. Age assurance and age verification technologies will be used to make sure of it.
