Encryption
Tulsi Gabbard Fends Off Europe's Antitech Tyrants—for Now
Convincing the U.K. to stand down on backdoor access to Apple's encryption is a big win. The next battle will be fought over age verification.
The TAKE IT DOWN Act's Good Intentions Don't Make Up for Its Bad Policy
Congress just approved a new online censorship scheme under the auspices of thwarting revenge porn and AI-generated "nonconsensual intimate visual depictions."
Signal Chat Controversy Is an Endorsement of Encryption Software
Popular encryption apps are probably secure if government officials rely on them.
The Atlantic Should Not Find Out About a War Before Congress Does
The White House accidentally leaked military plans in Yemen to a journalist—and demonstrated how unconstitutional U.S. war making has become.
Apple Takes U.K. to Court Over Demand To Weaken Encryption
If enacted, the order would weaken digital security for Apple users throughout the U.K.
U.K. Demands Access to Any Apple User's Data, Anywhere in the World
The reported order from Britain's Home Office is further proof that governments pose a greater privacy risk than corporations.
Apple Makes It More Difficult for Crooks and Cops To Look at Your Phone
A new "inactivity reboot" protects data from thieves and helps preserve due process.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov's Arrest Is Part of a Global War on Free Speech
Governments around the world seek to suppress ideas and control communications channels.
KOSA Moves Forward in Congress, Threatening Free Speech and Encryption
Only Sens. Paul and Wyden are expected to vote "no" on Tuesday. Power to stop KOSA now resides with the House.
The Government Fears This Privacy Tool
The Department of Justice indicted the creators of Samourai Wallet, an application that helps people spend their bitcoins anonymously.
Appeals Court Rules That Cops Can Physically Make You Unlock Your Phone
The 9th Circuit determined that forcibly mashing a suspect's thumb into his phone to unlock it was akin to fingerprinting him at the police station.
Government Is Snooping on Your Phone
Many apps collect data that is then accessed by outside entities. Should you care?
This Year's Libertarian Gift Guide: 23 Ideas for 2023
In today's innovative economy, there's no excuse for sending a gift card. The staff at Reason is here with some inspiration.
NYPD Will Spend Nearly $400 Million to Hide its Radio Communications
NYPD radio frequencies have been open to the public since 1932. A new encrypted system will end that.
U.K. Government Finally Admits It Can't Scan for Child Porn Without Violating Everybody's Privacy
A surveillance authority in the country’s troubling Online Safety Bill won’t be enforced, officials say. But for how long?
Congressman Talks Smack About Bitcoin Creator 'Saratoshi Nagamoto'
If you're getting Satoshi's name wrong, you might not know what you're talking about.
Childproofing the Internet
How online “child protection” measures could make child and adult internet users more vulnerable to hackers, identity thieves, and snoops.
The FBI's Anti-Encryption Campaign
The loss of public key encryption service providers would make us all more vulnerable, both physically and financially.
Nostr and the Decentralized Future of Social Media Is Here: Live with NVK, Will Casarin, Nick Gillespie, and Zach Weissmueller
Join Reason on YouTube and Facebook on Thursday at 1 p.m. Eastern for a discussion of the decentralized protocol Nostr with NVK, Damus app creator Will Casarin, Nick Gillespie, and Zach Weissmueller.
Apple Announces Stronger Data Encryption, to the Dismay of FBI Snoops
Photos and information you store on iCloud will be safer from hackers, spies, and the government.
U.K.'s Awful Internet Bill Becomes a Bit Less Hostile to Free Speech
At a dangerous moment for the free exchange of ideas, civil libertarians can tally a win.
China's Lockdown Protests Show Why You Shouldn't Let Government Weaken Encryption, Anonymity
Too many Western governments want to follow in the footsteps of authoritarians when it comes to tech privacy.
Concerned About Abortion Surveillance and Law Enforcement? Time To Treat Encryption Seriously
A mother-daughter arrest in Nebraska was fueled in part by unencrypted Facebook messages police accessed through a warrant.
What the Hell Just Happened With Crypto?
Last week, the price of bitcoin fell to lows not seen since 2020 while a prominent stablecoin collapsed. Does this mean it was all a Ponzi scheme?
Why Does Border Patrol Need the Ability To Delete Messages?
A lawsuit attempts to find out how federal agents are implementing Wickr, a communications service that has an auto-erase function.
Encryption Protects Ukrainians, Dissident Russians, and You
No class of governments can be trusted with access to people’s private communications.
State News Networks Embrace Encryption as Russian Censorship Worsens
Plus: Musk rebuffs calls to block Russian news, the curious logic of "Buy American," and more...
Hillary Clinton Is 'Disappointed' by Crypto Exchanges' 'Philosophy of Libertarianism'
Crypto's transcendence of national borders is a feature, not a bug.
EARN IT Act Abuses Privacy in the Guise of Protecting Kids
It probably won't save any children, but it might mean the end of encrypted messaging.
Canadian Government Uses 'Terrorist Financing Act' To Target Financial Support for Freedom Convoy Truckers
Did Justin Trudeau accidentally prove crypto bros' point?
U.K. Officials Want Even More Power To Punish You for Being Mean Online
A Scottish man was just convicted for tweeting an insult about a dead person. The authorities already have too much power to censor.
The EARN IT Act Is Back. Here's What People Are Saying.
Plus: The #OldProProject, food truck police, and more...
The U.K. Government's Latest Encryption Fearmongering Relies on Child Sex-Trafficking Panics
British police want greater surveillance powers and they’re willing to destroy everybody’s cybersecurity to get them.
Secret Documents Show Which Message Apps Are the Most FBI-Proof
WhatsApp and iMessage are not as private as you might think.
Whistleblower Absurdly Attacks Facebook's Privacy-Protecting Encryption Efforts
When "protecting users' safety" actually means the opposite
America's Post-9/11 Surveillance Authorities Were Inevitably Turned Against Its Own Citizens
We were warned about the dangerous power of the USA PATRIOT Act. Edward Snowden proved that critics were justified.
Apple Delays Plan To Snoop on Users' Pictures
An encryption back door will lead to abusive authoritarian surveillance—even if you present it as a way to stop child porn.
The Taliban Is No Excuse To Crack Down On Secure Tech
Breaking encryption technologies always makes us less safe, no matter what the justification.
Top Cops Pick the Midst of an International Spying Scandal To Demand Encryption Curbs
Regulating privacy protections would put the public at greater risk than criminals.
The FBI Secretly Ran an Encrypted Messaging Service To Conduct the Same Old Drug War Stings
Plus: ACLU identity crisis, Texas bans vaccine rules, and more...
Support Encryption for Everybody or Place Your Faith in Government Snoops
Government agencies have repeatedly proven themselves to be abusive.
Bitcoin Is Protecting Human Rights Around the World
"It's an escape hatch from tyranny," writes the Human Rights Foundation's Alex Gladstein. "It's nothing less than freedom money."
Houston Police Chief Tries To Blame Encryption for Failure To Uncover Far-Right Cops
Meanwhile, he’s still trying to downplay corruption within his own force.
Millions of Users Are Flooding Encrypted Apps After Social Media Purges
Plus: Supreme Court declines more election challenges, Lisa Montgomery gets temporary stay of execution, and more...
The Same U.S. Government That Wants To Weaken Our Encryption Just Got Massively Hacked
Let's not weaken cybersecurity even more.
