GOVERNMENT BODIES SPLIT OVER ENCRYPTION USE
Different bodies within the UK government have taken opposing views on the value of end-to-end encryption of messaging on social media platforms.
The Home Office launched a campaign to stop social media companies rolling out end-to-end encryption facilities on their platforms, while the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) released a statement in which they argued against delaying the introduction of encryption.
No Place to Hide, the Home Office’s campaign for online safety, argued that if the introduction of encryption went ahead, “an estimated 14 million reports of suspected child sexual abuse online could be lost each year” which would have “a catastrophic impact on child safety.”
Meanwhile, in a statement, the ICO’s Executive Director for Innovation and Technology Stephen Bonner argued that “there is too much focus on the costs [of encryption] without also weighing up the significant benefits,” adding that “delaying its use leaves everyone at risk, including children.”
The tension within the UK government comes after tech giant Meta announced it was delaying the rollout of end-to-end encryption for Facebook and Instagram after a number of campaign groups raised concerns over child safety.
It remains unclear whether the Home Office and ICO will reach a shared position on the relative impact encryption has on child safety. Bonner hinted the ICO had been excluded from the development of the Home Office’s campaign, saying he “look[s] forward to being a key participant in this crucial discussion.”
SCAM-PROOF YOUR COMMUNICATIONS: NCSC
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has called on businesses to ‘scam-proof’ their communications with customers.
The government security agency issued a series of guidelines for firms to follow when communicating with the public in order to distinguish the style of messaging from the common tactics used by scammers in phone calls, texts and emails.
The announcement comes amid a surge in online scams, with fake parcel delivery texts among the most common types of scam.
“Most of us will have received a suspected dodgy text or call during the pandemic and we know these scams are getting more convincing,” said NCSC Technical Director, Dr Ian Levy.
“To counter this, we need legitimate customer text and telephone messages to be secure, with clear signposts of authenticity that give confidence to customers.”
APPLE AIR TAGS USED FOR STALKING: BBC
Apple’s new AirTags are being used for stalking, according to a BBC report.
The AirTags, which were released in April 2021, allow customers to locate their possessions with an app on their smartphones using the GPS positioning in the tags.
However, in some cases, they have been used for more nefarious purposes. The BBC spoke to a number of women who say they came across AirTags they didn’t own, which they suspect were being used to track their location without their knowledge.
One woman said she found such a tag taped to the inside of her handbag. “”They should stop selling them for a period of time until they can work out some safety boundaries,” another woman, who located an unknown AirTag, said.
“We take customer safety very seriously and are committed to AirTag’s privacy and security,” Apple told the BBC in a statement.
“If users ever feel their safety is at risk, they are encouraged to contact local law enforcement, who can work with Apple to provide any available information about the unknown AirTag.”
ASA WARNS LOVE ISLAND STARS OVER BREAKING ADVERTISING RULES
The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) has cautioned a number of former Love Island contestants of breaking advertising rules for failing to disclose paid adverts when they post them to Instagram.
Love Island stars, Jess and Eve Gale and Belle Hassan were among 6 influencers the ASA said had repeatedly breached the rules for posting adverts that were not transparent.
The ASA are to post their own adverts on the platforms, which call out the influencers for breaching its guidelines.
“For the minority of influencers that repeatedly fail to disclose their paid-for posts, it’s important their social media followers are told,” said Shahriar Coupal, Director of Advertising Policy & Practice at the ASA.
“When we see the necessary changes to their disclosure practices, we’ll call off the ads. But, where non-compliance persists, we’ll look to more direct forms of enforcement.”
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