Senators Clash Over WhatsApp’s Encryption Update

By Cory Bennett - 04/06/16 04:28 PM EDT

Two lawmakers issued dueling statements on Wednesday alternately praising and bashing the popular messaging platform WhatsApp for turning on default encryption for its billion users.

“This is especially important for human rights activists, political dissidents and persecuted minorities around the world,” said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

“This is an open invitation to terrorists, drug dealers and sexual predators to use WhatsApp’s services to endanger the American people,” countered Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.).

The remarks came a day after Facebook-owned WhatsApp said it had extended automatic end-to-end encryption to all of its users, meaning only the sender and recipient of a message can view its content.

The move strengthens privacy for WhatsApp users but also potentially locks out law enforcement officials who want to use the communications in an investigation.

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http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/275393-senators-clash-over-whatsapps-encryption-update