WASHINGTON (Reuters) - US social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp will have to share encrypted user messages with British police under a new agreement between the two countries, Bloomberg News reported on Monday.
The new agreement, which is expected to be signed next month, will force social media companies to share information to support investigations into individuals facing serious criminal charges, including terrorism and child sexual harassment, the source said.
The Home Secretary, Preeti Patel, had warned earlier that the plan «Facebook» to enable users to send full messages encrypted, would be in favor of criminals. The minister called on social media platforms to develop "back doors" to enable intelligence agencies to access message platforms.
According to Bloomberg, the United States and Britain have agreed not to investigate the citizens of the two countries in the framework of the planned agreement, and America will not be able to use the information obtained from British companies in cases punishable by death.