US govt pushing Facebook to wiretap Messenger - report

Nieuws Mobiel Verenigde Staten 20 AUG 2018
US govt pushing Facebook to wiretap Messenger - report

The US government is pressuring Facebook to break the encryption of its Messenger app so that law enforcement can spy on the voice conversations of a suspect in an ongoing criminal probe, according to unnamed sources cited by Reuters. The company has so far refused to comply in the California-based investigation related to the MS-13 gang which remains under seal. However, the government sought to hold Facebook in contempt of court last week for refusing to carry out the surveillance request, said the report.

In its defence, the company said it can only comply with the government’s request if it rewrites the code relied upon by all Messenger users to remove encryption or else hacks the suspect under investigation, according to the sources. 

In December 2015, a similar standoff between Apple and the FBI arose when the iPhone manufactured was asked to help break into a device belonging to one of the perpetrators of a mass shooting in San Bernardino, California. Apple refused to comply, with the FBI eventually hiring a third party to develop technology to unlock the iPhone before dropping the case.


 

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