WhatsApp is the most popular end-to-end encrypted chat app in the world. Shutting it down for 100 million people not suspected or charged with any crime is an incredibly disproportionate, privacy-thwarting response to not being able to access user data in one criminal investigation.
> Shutting it down for 100 million people not suspected or charged with any crime is an incredibly disproportionate, privacy-thwarting response to not being able to access user data in one criminal investigation.
What proportional recourse do you suggest when Whatsapp are effectively in contempt of court (in absentia)? In most jurisdictions, obstructing the course of justice usually has heavy penalties.
> I am against the use of warrants when there is nothing to search...
End to end encrypting doesn't magically cause metadata to disappear. IP addresses, the times messages were sent and received are still useful to law enforcement. In this instance, the court want the IP address of the accused so they can follow up with the ISP.
I prefer warrants written out for specific individuals to dragnet surveillance.
Are you arguing against the use of warrants in police investigations?