Europol Chief Says Big Tech Has 'Responsibility' To Unlock Encrypted Messages

Technology giants must do more to co-operate with law enforcement on encryption or they risk threatening European democracy, according to the head of Europol, as the agency gears up to renew pressure on companies at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week. From a report:
Catherine De Bolle told the Financial Times she will meet Big Tech groups in the Swiss mountain resort to discuss the matter, claiming that companies had a 'social responsibility' to give the police access to encrypted messages that are used by criminals to remain anonymous. 'Anonymity is not a fundamental right,' said the EU law enforcement agency's executive director.

'When we have a search warrant and we are in front of a house and the door is locked, and you know that the criminal is inside of the house, the population will not accept that you cannot enter.' In a digital environment, the police needed to be able to decode these messages to fight crime, she added. 'You will not be able to enforce democracy [without it].'

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