The U.K. Parliament has passed the Online Safety Bill (OSB), which says it will make the U.K. “the safest place” in the world to be online. In reality, the OSB will lead to a much more censored, locked-down internet for British users. The bill could empower the government to undermine not just the privacy and security of U.K. residents, but internet users worldwide.
It’s fairly simple: encrypted software developers will leave the UK, because no one would trust the security of their SW. I’m not sure if there is an exception for online banking, but perhaps this bill will stimulate the mattress industry and encourage return to the old ways of storing money.
Even if there are exceptions for banking apps, would you trust them? What will private companies do to protect their trade secrets? What will children and other victims of sexual abuse do when they seek help and need a safe and private environment?
Edit for an addition:
UK mass interception laws violates human rights and the fight continues… [May 2021]
I see your point and agree. I use online banking and I trust that my bank doesn’t want to compromise my account by adding some back-door. Having said that I have no doubt that should and government agency request access to my financial data, they would do it in a blink of an eye.
Yes, the law is a bad one and people should voice their protests, but I’m afraid that nothing will ultimately change and we’ll have more bad laws in the future.
Tbf banking uses encryption for transactions exclusively between you and a bank. I don’t think the law is “no end to end encryption at all”
I’m using signal no matter what dishi rishi tells me to do.
They apply client-side scanning. Meaning the data gets scanned before it gets encrypted. This is like someone looking over your shoulder.
I didn’t say they’re banning encryption, I was just referring to the back-door requirement. An encryption with a back-door is no encryption at all.
Signal as far as I know isn’t based in the UK and hence not subject to these laws.