Europe’s top law enforcement officials are sounding the alarm about the increasing use of end-to-end encryption in social media platforms. They warn that this technology, while designed to enhance privacy, severely hinders their ability to investigate and prosecute serious crimes.
End-to-end encryption prevents access to crucial evidence
The declaration, supported by Europol and the European Police Chiefs, points out that end-to-end encryption will prevent technology companies from detecting illegal activity on their platforms. As a result, police will lose access to crucial evidence in cases of child sexual abuse, human trafficking, drug smuggling, homicides, economic crimes, and terrorism.
Meta’s Messenger platform
The statement coincides with Meta’s increased use of end-to-end encryption across its Messenger platform.
“Our homes are becoming more dangerous than our streets as crime is moving online,” said Catherine De Bolle, Executive Director of Europol. “To keep our society and people safe, we need this digital environment to be secured. Tech companies have a social responsibility to develop a safer environment where law enforcement and justice can do their work. If police lose the ability to collect evidence, our society will not be able to protect people from becoming victims of crime.”
The Joint Declaration was adopted on April 18th at a meeting of European Chiefs of Police in London, hosted by the UK’s National Crime Agency. Leaders from all EU member states and Schengen Associated Countries were present, alongside Europol’s Executive Director.
Call to Action
Police chiefs are urgently calling for collaboration between the tech industry and governments to find solutions that protect both privacy and public safety.
Written by
LarsGoran Bostrom
Learning Design- and Data ethics consultant
