​Communication security/The threat of extremist groups

The increased use of encryption technologies, particularly in everyday services such as email, will lead spy agencies to commit “ethically worse” behavior, such as hacking individual computers, a former GCHQ boss has warned.

Speaking at the London School of Economics (LSE), Sir David Omand said increasingly secure encryption technologies, which currently allow users to message and email in private, mean agencies are unable to intercept mail, and could be forced into more direct spying methods, report the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

Following evidence leaked by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, both GCHQ and its US counterpart were found to be spying on millions of people’s private data. The revelations caused public outcry, leading to calls for web firms to make data more secure.

 Web encryption leads to ‘unethical’ spy practices – ex-GCHQ chief