Australia’s top spy urges big tech to unravel encrypted chats

Many tech platforms pride themselves on the ability to guarantee privacy through encrypted messaging channels, and providing access to law enforcement has long been seen as off-limits. — AFP

SYDNEY: Australia’s top spy on April 24 urged greater cooperation from the big tech companies, asking them to break a long-held industry taboo by providing access to encrypted messages.

Intelligence chief Mike Burgess said encrypted messaging had compromised the ability to root out threats, and said tech companies had a duty to break encryption when asked.