• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
RestorePrivacy

RestorePrivacy

Resources to stay safe and secure online

  • News
  • Tools
    • Secure Browser
    • VPN
    • Ad Blocker
    • Secure Email
    • Private Search Engine
    • Data Removal
      • Incogni Review
    • Password Manager
    • Secure Messaging App
    • Tor
    • Identity Theft Protection
    • Unblock Websites
    • Privacy Tools
  • Email
    • Secure Email
    • ProtonMail Review
    • Tutanota Review
    • Mailfence Review
    • Mailbox.org Review
    • Hushmail Review
    • Posteo Review
    • Fastmail Review
    • Skiff Mail Review
    • Runbox Review
    • Temporary Disposable Email
    • Encrypted Email
    • Alternatives to Gmail
  • VPN
    • What is VPN
    • VPN Reviews
      • NordVPN Review
      • Surfshark VPN Review
      • VyprVPN Review
      • Perfect Privacy Review
      • ExpressVPN Review
      • CyberGhost Review
      • AVG VPN Review
      • IPVanish Review
      • Hotspot Shield VPN Review
      • ProtonVPN Review
      • Atlas VPN Review
      • Private Internet Access Review
      • Avast VPN Review
      • TorGuard Review
      • PrivadoVPN Review
    • VPN Comparison
      • NordVPN vs ExpressVPN
      • NordVPN vs PIA
      • IPVanish vs ExpressVPN
      • CyberGhost vs NordVPN
      • IPVanish vs NordVPN
      • ExpressVPN vs PIA
      • VyprVPN vs NordVPN
      • CyberGhost vs ExpressVPN
      • NordVPN vs HideMyAss
      • ExpressVPN vs ProtonVPN
      • Atlas VPN vs NordVPN
      • NordVPN vs Surfshark
      • ExpressVPN vs Surfshark
      • NordVPN vs Proton VPN
      • Surfshark vs CyberGhost
      • Surfshark vs IPVanish
    • Best VPNs
      • Best VPN for Torrenting
      • Best VPN for Netflix
      • Best Free VPN
      • VPN for Firestick TV
      • Best VPN for Android
      • Best VPN for Gaming
      • Best VPN for PC
      • Best VPN for Disney Plus
      • Best VPN for Hulu
      • Best VPN for Mac
      • Best VPN for Streaming
      • Best VPN for Windows
      • Best VPN for iPhone
    • VPN Coupons
      • ExpressVPN Coupon
      • NordVPN Coupon
      • Cyber Monday VPN Deals
      • NordVPN Cyber Monday
      • Surfshark VPN Cyber Monday
      • ExpressVPN Cyber Monday
    • VPN Guides
      • Free Trial VPN
      • Cheap VPNs
      • Static IP VPN
      • VPN Ad Blocking
      • No Logs VPN
      • Best VPN Chrome
      • Best VPN Reddit
      • Split Tunneling VPN
      • VPN for Binance
      • WireGuard VPN
      • VPN for Amazon Prime
      • VPN for Linux
      • VPN for iPad
      • VPN for Firefox
      • VPN for BBC iPlayer
    • By Country
      • Best VPN Canada
      • Best VPN USA
      • Best VPN UK
      • Best VPN Australia
      • VPN for Russia
    • VPN Router
  • Password
    • Best Password Managers
    • Comparisons
      • NordPass vs 1Password
      • 1Password vs LastPass
      • NordPass vs LastPass
      • RoboForm vs NordPass
      • 1Password vs Bitwarden
      • Dashlane vs NordPass
      • 1Password vs Dashlane
      • NordPass vs Bitwarden
    • KeePass Review
    • NordPass Review
    • 1Password Review
    • Dashlane Review
    • RoboForm Review
    • LastPass Review
    • Bitwarden Review
    • Strong Password
  • Storage
    • Best Cloud Storage
    • pCloud Review
    • Nextcloud Review
    • IDrive Review
    • SpiderOak Review
    • Sync.com Review
    • MEGA Cloud Review
    • NordLocker Review
    • Tresorit Review
    • Google Drive Alternatives
  • Messenger
    • Secure Messaging Apps
    • Signal Review
    • Telegram Review
    • Wire Review
    • Threema Review
    • Session Review
  • Info
    • Mission
    • Press
    • Contact
  • News
  • Tools
    • Secure Browser
    • VPN
    • Ad Blocker
    • Secure Email
    • Private Search Engine
    • Data Removal
      • Incogni Review
    • Password Manager
    • Secure Messaging App
    • Tor
    • Identity Theft Protection
    • Unblock Websites
    • Privacy Tools
  • Email
    • Secure Email
    • ProtonMail Review
    • Tutanota Review
    • Mailfence Review
    • Mailbox.org Review
    • Hushmail Review
    • Posteo Review
    • Fastmail Review
    • Skiff Mail Review
    • Runbox Review
    • Temporary Disposable Email
    • Encrypted Email
    • Alternatives to Gmail
  • VPN
    • What is VPN
    • VPN Reviews
      • NordVPN Review
      • Surfshark VPN Review
      • VyprVPN Review
      • Perfect Privacy Review
      • ExpressVPN Review
      • CyberGhost Review
      • AVG VPN Review
      • IPVanish Review
      • Hotspot Shield VPN Review
      • ProtonVPN Review
      • Atlas VPN Review
      • Private Internet Access Review
      • Avast VPN Review
      • TorGuard Review
      • PrivadoVPN Review
    • VPN Comparison
      • NordVPN vs ExpressVPN
      • NordVPN vs PIA
      • IPVanish vs ExpressVPN
      • CyberGhost vs NordVPN
      • IPVanish vs NordVPN
      • ExpressVPN vs PIA
      • VyprVPN vs NordVPN
      • CyberGhost vs ExpressVPN
      • NordVPN vs HideMyAss
      • ExpressVPN vs ProtonVPN
      • Atlas VPN vs NordVPN
      • NordVPN vs Surfshark
      • ExpressVPN vs Surfshark
      • NordVPN vs Proton VPN
      • Surfshark vs CyberGhost
      • Surfshark vs IPVanish
    • Best VPNs
      • Best VPN for Torrenting
      • Best VPN for Netflix
      • Best Free VPN
      • VPN for Firestick TV
      • Best VPN for Android
      • Best VPN for Gaming
      • Best VPN for PC
      • Best VPN for Disney Plus
      • Best VPN for Hulu
      • Best VPN for Mac
      • Best VPN for Streaming
      • Best VPN for Windows
      • Best VPN for iPhone
    • VPN Coupons
      • ExpressVPN Coupon
      • NordVPN Coupon
      • Cyber Monday VPN Deals
      • NordVPN Cyber Monday
      • Surfshark VPN Cyber Monday
      • ExpressVPN Cyber Monday
    • VPN Guides
      • Free Trial VPN
      • Cheap VPNs
      • Static IP VPN
      • VPN Ad Blocking
      • No Logs VPN
      • Best VPN Chrome
      • Best VPN Reddit
      • Split Tunneling VPN
      • VPN for Binance
      • WireGuard VPN
      • VPN for Amazon Prime
      • VPN for Linux
      • VPN for iPad
      • VPN for Firefox
      • VPN for BBC iPlayer
    • By Country
      • Best VPN Canada
      • Best VPN USA
      • Best VPN UK
      • Best VPN Australia
      • VPN for Russia
    • VPN Router
  • Password
    • Best Password Managers
    • Comparisons
      • NordPass vs 1Password
      • 1Password vs LastPass
      • NordPass vs LastPass
      • RoboForm vs NordPass
      • 1Password vs Bitwarden
      • Dashlane vs NordPass
      • 1Password vs Dashlane
      • NordPass vs Bitwarden
    • KeePass Review
    • NordPass Review
    • 1Password Review
    • Dashlane Review
    • RoboForm Review
    • LastPass Review
    • Bitwarden Review
    • Strong Password
  • Storage
    • Best Cloud Storage
    • pCloud Review
    • Nextcloud Review
    • IDrive Review
    • SpiderOak Review
    • Sync.com Review
    • MEGA Cloud Review
    • NordLocker Review
    • Tresorit Review
    • Google Drive Alternatives
  • Messenger
    • Secure Messaging Apps
    • Signal Review
    • Telegram Review
    • Wire Review
    • Threema Review
    • Session Review
  • Info
    • Mission
    • Press
    • Contact

Signal Threatens to Leave UK Over New Law, Tutanota Pledges to Stay

March 1, 2023 By Heinrich Long — 2 Comments
Signal Threatens to Leave UK Over New Law, Tutanota Pledges to Stay

Encrypted communications app Signal is mulling an exit from the UK market in response to a new law threatening its core operational model, while E2EE email service provider Tutanota is taking the opposite approach, pledging to stay and help the British protect their communications from government scrutiny.

The law in question is the “Online Safety Bill,” which is a proposed legislation in the UK that threatens to eliminate encrypted communications in the country by adding a backdoor for law enforcement agencies, and a new regulator, the Online Safety Commissioner.

While the UK government maintains that the law’s aggressive provisions are required to protect vulnerable internet users like children, privacy advocates criticize the proposal for the impact it could have on free speech and privacy.

Signal to Exit

Signal’s president Meredith Whittaker stated earlier this week that the proposed bill undermines people’s right to communicate securely and privately, and encryption cannot work only for those who respect the law. “Encryption is either protecting everyone or it is broken for everyone,” commented Whittaker.

Moreover, Signal’s president said that if any backdoor exists on software, it will be targeted by malicious state actors who want to leverage it for their own intelligence collection purposes, so this approach will inevitably weaken secure communication products.

In conclusion, Whittaker said Signal would “absolutely, 100% walk” from the UK if the Online Safety Bill passes, forcing it to weaken the privacy of its users and betray their trust.

Tutanota to Stay

Today, Germany-based secure email service provider Tutanota published a post stating that they will not walk out of the UK, and they also do not plan to comply with any of the UK government’s requests to backdoor their encryption.

“If Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his government want to stop people in the UK from using strong encryption – like provided by our secure email service Tutanota – he must block access to Tutanota – just like Russia and Iran are already doing,” stated Tutanota’s co-founder Matthias Pfau in a strong message to the UK government.

“By doing so, the UK would put itself on the same level as authoritarian regimes like Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China, who are known for setting up Great Firewalls to limit their people’s access to the internet and online services.”

Pfau calls the decision-makers in the UK to reconsider their approach on the matter, warning them that there can be no safe backdoor reserved only for the good guys, and there can not be real security when it’s punched even with good intentions.

The company criticized Online Safety Bill extensively in a dedicated post back in November 2022, developing several arguments against the various provisions of the law, as well as sending an open letter to UK’s Prime Minister.

Tutanota’s founder further warns that secure communications aren’t threatened only in the UK. There are many politicians arguing in favor of encryption backdoors in the EU, USA, and Australia, too, lobbying for the implementation of associated laws.

Currently, the Online Safety Bill has been approved by the House of Commons in the UK’s Parliament and is in the House of Lords stage, where the final decision is to be taken.

The law has not been passed yet, but it’s on its way, but it might implement amendments that will lessen the adverse effects on private communications products.

Related Articles:

  • Tutanota Review
  • Signal Review
  • Best VPN for the UK
  • Signal for Desktop is Vulnerable to Attachments Exposure

About Heinrich Long

Heinrich is an associate editor for RestorePrivacy and veteran expert in the digital privacy field. He was born in a small town in the Midwest (USA) before setting sail for offshore destinations. Although he long chafed at the global loss of online privacy, after Edward Snowden’s revelations in 2013, Heinrich realized it was time to join the good fight for digital privacy rights. Heinrich enjoys traveling the world, while also keeping his location and digital tracks covered.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Free Brit

    March 8, 2023

    What’s to stop people who wish to continue using Signal from downloading it from outside of the UK, so the British dictatorship can carry on with their plans to stifle free speech?

    P.S. Where are the rest of the comments for this story?

    Reply
    • JAFO

      March 16, 2023

      Good question. Where are they? I know I’ve posted comments and questions on other stories located within this website and to this day, they still haven’t appeared. Nor has my question been addressed, eventhough I left my email with it. Instead of being posted, they had a tag on my screen that says my post is awaiting moderation. After refreshing my screen that tag disappeared along with my question. I guess their moderator is on vacation. What else I don’t understand is why my comments or questions would be censored, eh I mean moderated. This website is supposed to be about privacy. Which boils down to the protection of free thought, free speech, and solidarity against enemies of such things, both foreign and domestic. The world is a changing. And not for the better. Good luck Great Britain. I wish you the best at fighting your domestic enemies. Don’t give up. Kudos to Tutanota for having balls. A shout out and a proud salute from a Midwest born veteran to one of my biggest heroes, Edward Snowden. I hope that you and your family are doing well . I also hope that one of these days American’s will change the laws so you can come home and be treated just and fairly. Until then, you give the rest of us hope we can overcome . To any spook wanting to criticize me for such comments, you are just pissed because you’re embarrassed you got caught doing wrong. Rethink your life and what side you’re really on. You are weak minded if you believe what your boss is telling you.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sidebar

Digital Privacy Essentials:
Secure Browser
Private Search Engines
Secure Email
Best Password Managers
Secure Messaging Services
Best Ad Blockers
Best VPN Services
Secure Cloud Storage

Privacy & Security Guides:
Privacy Tools
Alternatives to Google Products
Firefox Privacy Modifications
Five Eyes, 9 Eyes, 14 Eyes Spying
Browser Fingerprinting
Is Tor Safe?
Alternatives to Gmail
VPN vs Tor
Alternatives to WhatsApp
Is Your Antivirus Spying on You?
Controlling Communication Channels is Crucial for Privacy
Anonymity Networks: VPNs, Tor, and I2P
How to Really Be Anonymous Online
Private and Anonymous Payments

Secure Email Reviews:
ProtonMail Review
Tutanota Review
Mailfence Review
Mailbox.org Review
Hushmail Review
Posteo Review
Fastmail Review
Runbox Review
CTemplar Review
Temporary Email Services
Encrypted Email

Password Manager Reviews:
Bitwarden Review
LastPass Review
KeePass Review
NordPass Review
Dashlane Review
1Password Review
Best Password Managers

Secure Messaging App Reviews:
Wire Review
Signal Review
Threema Review
Telegram Review
Session Review
Wickr Review

Secure Cloud Storage Reviews
Tresorit Review
MEGA Cloud Review
Sync.com Review
Nextcloud Review
IDrive Review
pCloud Review
SpiderOak Review
NordLocker Review

How To Guides
How to Encrypt Files on Windows
How to Encrypt Email
How to Configure Windows 10 for Privacy
How to use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
How to Secure Your Android Device for Privacy
How to Secure Your Home Network
How to Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft
How to Unblock Websites
How to Fix WebRTC Leaks
How to Test Your VPN
How to Hide Your IP Address
How to Create Strong Passwords
How to Really Be Anonymous Online

About RestorePrivacy

Contact

Restore Privacy Checklist

  1. Secure browser: Modified Firefox or Brave
  2. VPN: NordVPN [63% Off Coupon] or Surfshark
  3. Ad blocker: uBlock Origin or AdGuard
  4. Secure email: Mailfence or Tutanota
  5. Secure Messenger: Signal or Threema
  6. Private search engine: MetaGer or Brave
  7. Password manager: NordPass or Bitwarden

About

RestorePrivacy is a digital privacy advocacy group committed to helping people stay safe and secure online. You can support this project through donations, purchasing items through our links (we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you), and sharing this information with others. See our mission here.

We’re available for Press and media inquiries here.

RestorePrivacy is also on Twitter

COPYRIGHT © 2023 RESTORE PRIVACY, LLC · PRIVACY POLICY · TERMS OF USE · CONTACT · SITEMAP