In the News: Encryption Backdoors: From Child Safety To Houthis

In a new article for CEPA's Bandwidth, SIIA's Joshua Stein explores the growing global pressure on end-to-end encryption - and the risks it poses to privacy and security. From government-mandated backdoors in authoritarian regimes to proposals in democratic countries like the UK, Stein examines how well-meaning efforts to protect citizens could ultimately weaken the very protections that keep digital communications secure.

Stein highlights recent developments such as the UK's push under the Investigatory Powers Act to compel companies like Apple to weaken encryption, and how such moves could create global precedents with far-reaching consequences. He argues that strong encryption and user safety aren't mutually exclusive - and that it's possible to support child protection and law enforcement without compromising the privacy of billions.