The claims, made by Open Rights Group, follow the launch of a new advertising campaign criticising social media firms that use end-to-end encryption.

Created by M&C Saatchi, the half-million-pound PR blitz accuses companies of “blindfolding” the government and forms part of its long-running efforts to tackle encryption.

Jim Killock, Executive Director at the Open Rights Group, suggested the campaign is part of a concerted effort to soften up public opinion and garner support for the Online Safety Bill.

Privacy campaigners have warned that proposed amendments to the bill could allow the government to install backdoors into end-to-end encrypted messaging apps.

A range of messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram currently use end-to-end encryption.

Killock went on to describe the campaign as a “shameful distraction tactic,” adding that the Home Office is exploiting emotive narratives to manipulate the public.

“This crass campaign shows how desperate the government is to scare people into supporting the ill-conceived Online Harms Bill,” Killock said. “If the government weakens encryption, it will only help predators, criminals, blackmailers, and scammers.”

Speaking to Rolling Stone magazine, which first reported on the M&C Saatchi campaign, The Internet Society’s Robin Wilton said the Home Office PR move is as “disingenuous as it is dangerous”.

“Encryption protects personal safety and national security. What the government is proposing puts everyone at risk,” Wilton added.

End-to-end encryption

The UK Government has been vocal in its opposition to encryption amid claims it could enable child abuse and inhibit law enforcement from tackling the issue.

The government-backed No Place to Hide campaign, launched today (18th January), has called on social media companies to publicly commit to shelving end-to-end encryption until they “have the technology to ensure children’s safety”.

Backed by a host of charities, including Barnardo’s, the campaign has also called for greater collaboration between lawmakers and social media companies to find solutions that protect both children and user privacy.

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