NDM news week 9 (i)

Why tech companies are really worried about the snooper's charter

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/nov/10/why-tech-companies-worried-snoopers-charter-whatsapp-imessage

The tech companies warn that the new bill has a wider definition of telecommunications operator which covers companies like Apple and Facebook, as well as the old ISPs. The legislation includes a number of clauses which are scaring technology firms. Under the proposals they can be required to provide assistance to the government to hack their own users; they can be mandated to open their networks up to bulk interception of data; and they can be required to modify their technologies to make the interception of data easier, even to the extent of removing “electronic protections” applied to them.

• legislation is permitting technology companies to look at peoples messages
• Under the proposals they can be required to provide assistance to the government to hack their own users
• modify their technologies to make the interception of data easier
• giving their users less privacy so the government can have access to the consumers communications.

I would be surprised if the UK govt could insist a non-UK multinational comply with such a request - it would be outside of their jurisdiction. The only outcome I could see there would be for the multinational's product being banned for use in the UK. i think this would just make criminals smarter in passing their messages to each other.