EXCLUSIVE-U.S., UK to sign deal to get data faster from tech firms in security cases


Reuters | Updated: 03-10-2019 23:13 IST | Created: 03-10-2019 23:12 IST
EXCLUSIVE-U.S., UK to sign deal to get data faster from tech firms in security cases
Image Credit:

The United States and United Kingdom plan to sign a special data agreement on Thursday that would fast track requests from law enforcement to technology companies for information about the communications of terrorists and child abusers, according to documents reviewed by Reuters.

The agreement will be announced publicly alongside an open letter to Facebook Inc and its Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, calling on the company to suspend plans related to developing end-to-end encryption technology across its messaging services. Child predators have used messaging applications, including Facebook’s Messenger and WhatsApp software, to exchange explicit images and videos. Law enforcement officials say the company’s plans regarding encryption would inhibit their ability to investigate these crimes.

In practice, the bilateral agreement would empower the UK government to directly request data from U.S. tech companies, which remotely store data relevant to their own ongoing criminal investigations, rather than asking for it via U.S. law enforcement officials. A representative for the U.S. Department of Justice declined to comment.

Also Read: Increased law enforcement presence at Blanding area schools after threat

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Give Feedback