UK Reviews Expanding Ofcom Powers Over Encrypted Messaging

The UK government signalled intent to revisit Online Safety Act provisions targeting end-to-end encrypted messaging apps. Ofcom would gain powers to mandate "accredited technology" scanning of encrypted messages — a position cryptographers and privacy advocates described as technically equivalent to a backdoor. Signal and WhatsApp both publicly threatened to withdraw from the UK market rather than comply. The government later paused this enforcement track but did not remove the power from the Act.

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