WhatsApp expands encryption, to the FBI’s chagrin

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The Facebook-owned WhatsApp texting application has expanded encryption to apply to all of the content sent between users, leading to harsh criticism from the law enforcement community.

“If the public does nothing, encryption like that will continue to roll out,” James Baker, general counsel to the FBI, told a gathering on Tuesday. “It has public safety costs. Folks have to understand that, and figure out how they are going to deal with that. Do they want the public to bear those costs? Do they want the victims of terrorism to bear those costs?”

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