According to TechRadar, 61 organizations from across the tech and privacy sectors have signed a global statement demanding that governments worldwide protect strong encryption. The statement, shared by ACT (The App Association), warns that weakening encrypted services threatens both security and the digital economy. This comes amid mounting political pressure in the EU, where the Chat Control bill is advancing and could introduce client-side scanning of private messages before encryption. The EU Commission presented a new roadmap in June 2025 seeking law enforcement access to citizens’ private data by 2030. Among the signatories is the VPN Trust Initiative, representing major providers like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and VyprVPN. Former FBI General Counsel James A. Baker has called client-side scanning a “fundamentally bad idea,” breaking with some law enforcement positions.
The encryption battle heats up
Here’s the thing about encryption backdoors – they’re basically master keys for digital security. And once you create that vulnerability, you can’t control who finds it. The coalition makes this exact point: there’s no way to ensure these backdoors won’t be exploited by cybercriminals later. It’s like building a bank vault with a secret entrance only the police know about – except criminals are really good at finding secret entrances.
Why this matters for everyone
Look, encryption isn’t just for privacy nerds. The statement notes it “safeguards user privacy, protects sensitive data, and enables trust” – all foundations of commerce and communication. Without it, would you feel comfortable using banking apps? What about business communications? The digital economy basically runs on trust, and encryption is what builds that trust. When governments undermine that, they’re not just affecting activists or journalists – they’re affecting every small business and consumer who relies on digital services.
The VPN angle
It’s no surprise that VPN providers are heavily involved in this fight. They’ve been targeted by governments too, and their entire business model depends on strong encryption. The VPN Trust Initiative’s participation shows how interconnected these privacy technologies are. When you weaken encryption in messaging apps, you’re setting a precedent that could eventually affect VPNs, secure email, and other privacy tools. It’s a slippery slope that privacy advocates have been warning about for years.
Where this is heading
So what happens now? The EU’s Chat Control proposal has reportedly moved to the next legislative step with broad support from lawmakers. That means we’re likely to see even more intense debate in 2025. The coalition’s statement is essentially drawing a line in the sand – they’re saying there are ways to fight crime that don’t involve breaking encryption for everyone. And they’re absolutely right. The question is whether governments will listen, or if we’re heading toward a future where private digital communication becomes increasingly difficult. One thing’s for sure – this battle over encryption isn’t going away anytime soon.
