Feed: Slashdot
Feed Link: https://slashdot.org/
---

Title: TikTok Says End-To-End Encryption Makes Users Less Safe

Link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/03/04/1638...

An anonymous reader quotes a report from the BBC: TikTok will not introduce
end-to-end encryption (E2EE) -- the controversial privacy feature used by
nearly all its rivals -- arguing it makes users less safe. E2EE means only
the sender and recipient of a direct message can view its contents, making it
the most secure form of communication available to the general public.
Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and X have embraced it
because they say their priority is maximizing user privacy. But critics have
said E2EE makes it harder to stop harmful content spreading online, because
it means tech firms and law enforcement have no way of viewing any material
sent in direct messages. The situation is made more complex because TikTok
has long faced accusations that ties to the Chinese state may put users' data
at risk. TikTok has consistently denied this, but earlier this year the
social media firm's US operations were separated from its global business on
the orders of US lawmakers. TikTok told the BBC it believed end-to-end
encryption prevented police and safety teams from being able to read direct
messages if they needed to. It confirmed its approach to the BBC in a
briefing about security at its London office, saying it wanted to protect
users, especially young people from harm. It described this stance as a
deliberate decision to set itself apart from rivals. "Grooming and harassment
risks are very real in DMs [direct messages] so TikTok now can credibly argue
that it's prioritizing 'proactive safety' over 'privacy absolutism' which is
a pretty powerful soundbite," said social media industry analyst Matt
Navarra. But Navarra said the move also "puts TikTok out of step with global
privacy expectations" and might reinforce wariness for some about its
ownership.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

---
VRSS v2.1.180528