Whatsapp is one of the most popular and widely used messaging app in the world. It has now become the must have app for many of us that gives us connectivity with our friends and relatives. The future of this app is in danger in UK and it is soon likely to be banned as indicated by the PM David Cameron. The British government has asked the company to give the information of the encrypted messaged to the British intelligence agencies if they want to avoid ban in the UK.
Presently whatsapp has 800 million monthly users and they all will be disappointed by the new Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act (DRIPA) draft which was announced by Home Secretary Theresa May. According to the sources the new draft will be published in the autumn and the government is fully prepared to introduce the Bill in the December 2015.
The new act DRIPA is based on the Communication Data Bill that is also known as “Snooper’s Charter” that was earlier introduced in the parliament in the may 2012. The bill could not pass at that time as it was strongly opposed by the liberal Democrats.
After the incident of Charlie Hebdio attack in Paris this year the government has decided to take stern steps to curb the situation. Earlier David Cameron has made a statement” in our country, do we Want to allow a means of communication between people which even in extremes, with a signed warrant of Home Secretary personally that we cannot read”.
He added, “my answer is no, we must not. If I am the prime minister, I will make sure it is a comprehensive piece of legislation that makes sure that we don’t allow terrorist safe spaces to communicate with each other:
The statement of the prime ministers indicates that government is very serious about the message encryption and will definitely pass this bill this till the New Year. If the Bill passes in the parliament then it will be interesting to see the whatsapp stand in the entire process. Recently whatsapp has made many improvements in its software and has claimed that it will be impossible for the hackers or the company to encrypt the messages delivered on the whatsapp and now the user can avail the complete privacy using the whatapp messenger. It will be difficult for the company to comply with the law enforcement agencies in this situation.
The new bill will force the messaging companies to share the encrypted data with the British intelligence agencies if the agencies have suspicion against the sender. If a company fails to do so the company will be bound to ban in UK. If the whatsapp decline to share the encrypted message it is likely to be banned and it may create a serious outrage in UK.