Tech

WhatsApp CEO supports Signal’s concerns over UK’s Online Safety Bill

Published

1 year ago

Farwa

Voicing concerns and strong reservations over the United Kingdom’s (UK) new legislation “Online Safety Bill” the rival messaging platforms WhatsApp and Signal have united in its opposition.

The bill hoping to regulate communication platforms is currently under discussion in the UK’s House of Commons.

WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart backed Signal’s stance while retweeting the rival messaging app on Twitter.

In the tweet, Signal shared its President Meredith Whittaker’s detailed blog on the bill.

End-to-end encryption is a secure form of communication offered by WhatsApp and Signal which allows users to enjoy safe and secure communication without decryption other than the recipient.

The bill focus’s on end-to-end encryption is being criticised by both the platforms.

WhatsApp CEO opposed the bill earlier saying it would erode freedom of expression and compromise its well-established end-to-end encryption privacy.

“We have never seen a liberal democracy do that,” he said.

The UK's Online Safety Bill is poised to undermine encryption and create a regime of mass surveillance. Our president @mer__edith calls on the UK to reconsider this misguided Bill, and affirms that Signal will *never* undermine our privacy commitments:https://t.co/LPLH5tdRCF
— Signal (@signalapp) March 9, 2023

The WhatsApp CEO termed the bill “the most concerning piece of legislation currently being discussed in the western world”.

While in a blog post published on Signal’s website, the messaging app’s president wrote: “Signal exists to provide people everywhere with a tool for real private communication. That’s our only goal, and we take it very seriously, but the current state of the Online Safety Bill in the UK puts the future of privacy and expression in grave jeopardy.”

The Signal president was of the view that the bill contains provisions that may undermine encryption, and could create an unprecedented regime of mass surveillance that would eliminate stop the people of UK to communicate with each other outside of government interference.

She termed the bill a “grab bag”.

Whittaker said: “We cannot let well-meaning emotions lead us to authoritarian futures.”

She said she opposes the bill in its current form and believes key provisions need to be fundamentally reconsidered.

As per the legislation, the government would be in a position to push the platforms for content moderation which cannot be done without compromising end-to-end encryption.

Latest News

Punjab will provide fifty thousand solar kits.

Published

3 weeks ago

Farwa

On Tuesday,Tuesday, while presiding over a review meeting on solar household solutions, the CM gave the order to begin the installation of one kilowatt solar systems right away. She also gave the order to introduce the newest solar systems.

Phase-I solar systems would be balloted for by 50,000 protected users who use 100 units each month, at a cost of Rs 12.6 billion.

Home-based solar systems will eventually be made available to other Punjabi consumers. A solar system will consist of a battery, inverter, sophisticated solar plate, and more related accessories.

Attending the meeting were Provincial Information Minister Azma Zahid Bukhari, MPA Sania Ashiq, Former Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Chief Secretary, Chairman Planning and Development, Secretaries of Energy, Finance, and Punjab Power Development Board (PPDB) Managing Director, in addition to other pertinent officers.

During his inaugural speech as Punjab’s chief minister, Maryam Nawaz outlined her five-year plan and promised to develop a strategy for customers who use fewer than 300 units of power.

According to Maryam Nawaz, the PML-N’s main goals for her term will be to provide jobs, healthcare, and education.

She said, “I am working on a plan to provide solar panels to consumers using up to 300 units of electricity or less in installments.”

Pakistan

There will be free WiFi in public parks.

Published

4 weeks ago

Farwa

The discussion on the province’s capital city’s beautification was chaired by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.

CM Gandapur gave the pertinent authorities instructions at the meeting to complete the arrangements and submit the free WiFi service plan for the province government’s approval.

In the following phase, he said, the service will be extended to more cities. In addition, the chief minister gave the Peshawar Development Authority instructions to create a beatification plan for the city.

The meeting voted to launch a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service on Nasir Bagh Road in the province capital with the goal of facilitating the easy mobility of the population.

CM Gandapur pushed for the installation of underpasses rather than overhead bridges and ordered the city’s street lights to be converted to solar power.

The chief minister gave the order to begin work on the road around the BRT Corridor at University Road as well as the building of the remaining section of Warsak-Nasir Bagh Road right away.

In order to promote KP’s culture, he also oversaw the installation of fake plants on all road walks and painted headbridges and walls with designs.

The chief minister of KP gave the order to approach business organizations for assistance in this respect.

Pakistan

FM Ishaq Dar praises IAEA for using nuclear technology in a “peaceful” manner

Published

4 weeks ago

Farwa

During a meeting with IAEA Director General (DG) Rafael Mariano Grossi outside the Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels, Pakistan, a founding member of the Agency, stressed the importance of the Agency’s work.

He stated that Pakistan placed a high value on the Agency’s efforts as a founding member.

The foreign minister also emphasized Pakistan’s goal to increase the proportion of nuclear energy in the country’s energy mix and the significance of nuclear energy in the fight against climate change.

Ishaq Dar went on to stress the importance of the Agency’s technical cooperation initiatives, to which Pakistan makes a major contribution as well.

According to the foreign minister, banks and other international financial institutions should support nuclear energy projects in developing nations so that those countries may meet their energy needs and meet their zero emissions commitments.

He requested that the IAEA continue raising global understanding of the benefits of nuclear energy as a clean energy source.

The director general of the IAEA commended Pakistan for its cooperation. Rafael Mariano Grossi continued by saying that Pakistan is essential in helping emerging nations by sharing knowledge and experience.

He acknowledged that there was a problem with financing nuclear projects and promised to work with international financial institutions to find a solution as quickly as possible.

The director general of the IAEA reflected fondly on his visit to Pakistan earlier in the year, when he inspected the country’s facilities and witnessed firsthand its progress in the peaceful applications of nuclear technology.