535
Signal Is More Than Encrypted Messaging. Under Meredith Whittaker, It’s Out to Prove Surveillance Capitalism Wrong (www.wired.com)
submitted 2 years ago by to c/privacy@lemmy.ml
257 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

https://ghostarchive.org/archive/0QgXq

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 14 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

Right, the French authorities are going to present evidence that this dude was aware of specific illegal activity and refuse to comply with a legal warrant involving said actively, making him guilty of obstruction at best, and possibly conspiracy. Signal complies with warrants, they just don't have anyone's keys. Telegram has everyone's keys, and theoretically could turn them over but they refuse. That's a huge difference from a legal perspective.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 13 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Thank you. I'm going to restate your explanation to be sure I've got it:

    • authorities want platforms to comply with legal requests
    • when Signal gets a subpoena, they open the key locker and show that it's empty. They provide the metadata they can (sign up date and last seen date, full stop) and tell authorities they can't do better.
    • when Telegram gets a subpoena, they open the key locker and show all the keys, then slam it shut in the face of the investigator, telling them to get bent.
    • conclusion: it's easier to never have the keys in the first place than to tease the government with them
  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
    •
  • [–] -1 points 2 years ago

    It's easier, but Telegram's authors are from Russia. They psychologically can't accept that "never have the keys" thing. They want to have control and they want to be able to tell "yes" to the investigator, possibly for something in return.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent