Five Governments Call Right To Privacy Conditional

Data collectors large and small sell private information belonging to individuals in a brisk market. Now the governments of the United States, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have issued a joint statement saying that when it comes to their interests, privacy is not absolute and in fact does not exist in many circumstances. “The increasing use and sophistication of certain encryption designs present challenges for nations in combating serious crimes and threats to national and global security,” it reads. The thrust of the proclamation is that providers of information and communications technology and services are subject to the law, which can include requirements to assist authorities to lawfully access data, including the content of communications. It concludes by warning that if governments continue to encounter impediments to lawful access to information, they may pursue “technological, enforcement, legislative or other measures to achieve lawful access solutions.”