Must be responsible
On one hand, platforms have faced increasing pressure for years now to crack down on speech globally and cooperate more with law enforcement agencies — including by breaking end-to-end encryption. Building platforms responsibly means reaching compromises with law enforcement agencies that allow for the investigation of serious crimes while protecting users’ privacy to the greatest extent possible. It’s a difficult, expensive dance, and when it’s working right neither the platforms or the law enforcement agencies are satisfied with the outcome.
This quote from the Casey Newton newsletter is enlightening. I find that the “responsibility” of the platforms is a fundamental concept to bring forward. The responsibility understood as awareness and acceptance of the role in the global contest that they influence, and in which they operate. Obviously, it’s an idea that needs to go at the same speed as the users’ privacy. It’s their positive contribution to our worldwide community’s improvement.
I have the feeling that Telegram, which I use and that I prefer to other messaging platforms, needs to prove to be become mature. Now or never.