India and Japan join UK against encrypted social media messages Encryption, Child Rights, Child Safety online

India and Japan have joined the so-called ‘Five Eyes’ group of nations (the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) in a campaign against encrypted platforms such as Facebook and its Whatsapp messaging service. In a joint international statement addressed to tech companies they have urged them to not overlook illegal activities including sharing of child abuse content on their platforms. 

Priti Patel, Home Secretary, UK mentioned ‘We owe it to all of our citizens, especially our children, to ensure their safety by continuing to unmask sexual predators and terrorists operating online’.