The Prime Minister uses both WhatsApp & Signal, and presumably appreciates the benefits of end-to-end encrypted communication.
Unless the UK moves towards a "one rule for politicians, another for everyone else"-approach, if Boris can have end-to-end encrypted crypto, so can we.
In case you're not aware, the Prime Minister's excessively-old phone number just leaked, online, courtesy of @popbitch.
Oh, and incidentally: a phone number is the sort of identity token which the #AgeVerification, #AgeAssurance & #VoCO communities assure us is totally safe to be shared with Age Verification service providers.
So the number becoming public information surely won't be a problem.
Does anyone know if @FetLife have a "search for friends by phone number" service?
At least BoJo is wise enough not to use Telegram.
No sign of SnapChat, either.
Hi. Jen!
Questions, some constitutional:
1/ does Boris have "disappearing messages" enabled?
2/ is there a legal obligation for communications retention by the Prime Minister?
3/ if so, how is this implemented?
Inquiring minds wish to know…
Waiting for @signalapp to chime in, be like
I can see them *trying* it, like the same way that the ZiL lanes were, in Moscow:
Mainstream(ish) media picking this up:
I wonder if BoJo backed up his messages to Google Drive before nuking the phone number? *Those* messages are stored *unencrypted* so that anyone who can access the storage — Google account users, possibly Google employees, US Security Services under FISA orders — can read them.
This is why end-to-end encryption provides strong security ONLY UP UNTIL an unencrypted copy becomes available to a third party, eg: via backup or via Governmental backdoor — such as @NSPCC are calling for.
THINKS: I wonder how long it will be until 1-or-more politicians or celebrities are pranked by some third party into accepting Boris' "new phone number"?
Nicely confirmed, BBC.
BBC News – Boris Johnson's personal phone number available online for years
Somehow this tweet did not age well; perhaps there are issues surrounding having your phone number proliferate around the internet untowardly?
Originally tweeted by Alec Muffett (@AlecMuffett) on 2021/04/29.
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