Australia set to spy on WhatsApp messages with encryption law

(FILES) -- This file picture taken on February 20, 2014 in Rome shows the Facebook and WhatsApp applications' icons displayed on a smartphone. European Union regulators on October 3, 2014 cleared the buyout of the WhatsApp mobile messaging service by Facebook, despite opposition by telecom companies afraid of the growing power of US technology giants. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS

Australia is set to give its police and intelligence agencies the power to access encrypted messages on platforms such as WhatsApp, becoming the latest country to face down privacy concerns in the name of public safety. 

Amid protests from companies such as Facebook Inc and Google, the government and main opposition struck a deal on Dec 4 that should see the legislation passed by parliament this week. Under the proposed powers, technology companies could be forced to help decrypt communications on popular messaging apps, or even build new functionality to help police access data.