S.T.O.P. Condemns Apple, Meta For Allowing ‘Fake Police’ Hack, Calls For True End-To-End Encryption

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View this email in your browser For Immediate Release S.T.O.P. Condemns Apple, Meta For Allowing ‘Fake Police’ Hack, Calls For True End-To-End Encryption (New York, NY, 3/31/2022) - Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based civil rights group, condemns Apple and Meta for allowing fake police officers to hack users’ data with fabricated requests for user data. The hackers forged emergency data requests, giving them access to any targeted user’s address, phone number, and IP address. S.T.O.P. previously condemned Apple, Meta, and other tech companies for using insecure software that collects large volumes of information about users that can be accessed by both police and hackers. The civil rights nonprofit renewed its calls for tech platforms to use true end-to-end encryption systems that give users control over cryptographic keys. SEE: Bloomberg - Apple and Meta Gave User Data to Hackers Who Used Forged Legal Requests https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-30/apple-meta-gave-user-data-to-hackers-who-forged-legal-requests The Hill – Apple, Meta turned over user data to hackers using forged requests: report https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/600410-apple-meta-turned-over-user-data-to-hackers-using-forged-requests-report/ “These companies claim their platforms are safe, but this hack shows it’s a lie,” said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn. “Tech companies promise privacy, but then they keep control of our data. You can’t have both. No one should consider iCloud, WhatsApp, and other products secure when companies, not users, keep the encryption keys. When users hold encryption keys, as is done with a growing number of tech products, we know platforms can’t compromise our data on behalf of hackers or oppressive political regimes.” SEE: S.T.O.P. Op-Ed - Apple’s Privacy Mythology Doesn’t Match Reality https://www.wired.com/story/opinion-apples-privacy-mythology-doesnt-match-reality/ S.T.O.P. Op-Ed - The Assault on Internet Privacy: Why Data Encryption Is Essential https://thereboot.com/the-assault-on-internet-privacy-why-data-encryption-is-essential/ Press Release - S.T.O.P. Welcomes Federal Ruling Blocking Google Photo Scanning https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2021/9/21/stop-welcomes-federal-ruling-blocking-google-photo-scanning The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project is a non-profit advocacy organization and legal services provider. S.T.O.P. litigates and advocates for privacy, fighting excessive local and state-level surveillance. Our work highlights the discriminatory impact of surveillance on Muslim Americans, immigrants, and communities of color. -- END -- CONTACT: S.T.O.P. Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn Copyright © 2021 Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.