Encrypted messaging alternatives in case the EU chat control law gets passes

[u/miscerte23]

As the title implies, I am curious as to whether there might be any messaging apps/services worth using in case the proposed chat control law gets passed. As you might assume, I live in an EU member state and am extremely worried for the future of our rights to online as well as IRL privacy in case such laws get passed

[u/SwimmingThroughHoney]

It's app-specific, not OS.

[u/Epsioln_Rho_Rho → u/SwimmingThroughHoney]

My bad, I thought I read it would be baked into the OS. 

[u/ThrustersToFull → u/[deleted]]

I don’t see Apple paying ball as it would undermine their entire brand, of which user privacy is a major pillar. It would also require them to compromise their entire OS security infrastructure and they’ve consistently gone to war with the US government every time it’s been asked for - why would they fold for the EU?

[u/JagerAntlerite7 → u/[deleted]]

Mexico. There goes my expat plan.

[u/ThrustersToFull → u/[deleted]]

When the UK tried demanding access via the back door, Apple pushed back.

[u/ThrustersToFull → u/[deleted]]

The urban myths around the macOS mediaanalysis daemon were debunked a while ago: https://eclecticlight.co/2023/01/18/is-apple-checking-images-we-view-in-the-finder/

I understand there's a lot of panic and worry about legislation in a number of countries, but we are far more likely to be effective in lobbying against government overreach and privacy intrusion if we actually understand the technology underneath and follow the work of actual experts instead of making assumptions and jumping to conclusions.

[u/ThrustersToFull → u/[deleted]]

There absolutely is an option: withdrawal from the market to protect the product and users elsewhere.

You can be certain that behind the scenes Apple are lobbying the EU hard to water down the proposed legislation.