Signal's Meredith Whittaker scorns anti-encryption efforts as 'parochial, magical thinking'

Meredith Whittaker, the president of Signal, warned about the resurgence of legislative attacks on encryption, which she described as "magical thinking." She expressed concern over the UK's Investigatory Powers Act, which could prevent global app updates deemed a threat to national security, and called for the tech industry to recognize the threat. Whittaker also discussed the potential risks of the EU's Digital Markets Act, which could compromise privacy and security standards in the name of interoperability.

Whittaker criticized the concentration of power in big tech companies, specifically calling out Nvidia as a monopolist. She argued that AI is dependent on big tech resources and is not open in any sense. She urged for honesty in the discourse about the use of these terms and the recognition of the massive concentration of power in the tech industry.

Key takeaways:

Signal’s president, Meredith Whittaker, warns of a resurgence of legislative attacks on encryption, often under the guise of protecting children, which she describes as 'magical thinking.'
Whittaker criticizes the Investigatory Powers Act in the UK, which could prevent global app updates that the UK government deems a threat to its national security.
She expresses concern over the messaging interoperability mandate being pursued in the EU via the Digital Markets Act, fearing it could water down security and privacy standards.
Whittaker calls Nvidia a monopolist and criticizes the concentration of power in big tech, arguing that AI is dependent on big tech resources and is not open in any sense.

Signal's Meredith Whittaker scorns anti-encryption efforts as 'parochial, magical thinking' | TechCrunch

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