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The Interview Podcast
Meredith Whittaker, Signal president: Privacy is a human right

Meredith Whittaker, Signal president: Privacy is a human right

The Interview vor 2 Wochen

Signal president Meredith Whittaker on defending privacy when governments demand access

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“Private communication is a fundamental human right for a reason,
because when those with power over you have access to your
intimate thoughts and your communication, they use those to
punish you. They can use them to persecute you. They can use them
to shut you up.” Megha Mohan speaks to Meredith Whittaker,
president of the Signal Foundation, which runs the encrypted
messaging app Signal. Its end-to-end encyption means only the
people in a conversation can read their messages. The protections
are so strong that even Signal itself can’t see the contents.

That privacy can be vital for journalists living under
authoritarian governments, dissidents and other vulnerable
people, but it can also allow scammers, child abusers and
criminals to communicate beyond Signal’s view.

Governments are demanding greater access to encrypted
communications, but Whittaker says Signal would rather leave a
country than weaken its protections. The Interview brings you
conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the
world. The best interviews from the BBC, including conversations
with former Sudanese leader Aisha Musa, Ukrainian drone commander
Robert Brovdi; plus many others You can listen on the BBC World
Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you
can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week
on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Presenter: Megha
Mohan Producer: Osman Iqbal Editor: Farhana Haider

(Image: Meredith Whittaker. Credit: Reuters)