The extraordinary orders reflect what is becoming a global controversy over the fight of technology companies to offer their users “end-to-end” encryption. That service, which has become quite in demand in the wake of reporting from the archive provided by Edward Snowden, ensures that only the users — but not the company itself — can access the content they are sharing. The post-Snowden fixation of tech companies to demonstrate a genuine commitment to protect the privacy of their users (motivated by business self-interest) has driven a wedge between the once-fully collaborative Silicon Valley and U.S. government surveillance state partners, creating a protracted and bitter public PR war that culminated last month in the Apple/FBI fight over access to iPhones.
WhatsApp, Used by 100 Million Brazilians, Was Shut Down Nationwide Today by a Single Judge
