Nevada moves to block Meta from using end-to-end encryption, calls it 'tool of child predators'

A few months back, Facebook (now known as Meta) announced that it would be switching its messaging services (Facebook Messenger, Instagram DM, and WhatsApp) to end-to-end encryption. This would mean that only the sender and recipient would be able to view the contents of a message, and even Meta would not be able to access them. This is a standard practice for messaging apps, with services like Signal and iMessage already using end-to-end encryption by default.

Unfortunately, one state is not a fan of this new development. The state of Nevada has filed a lawsuit against Meta, claiming that this new change is a violation of their state law and is essentially the same as a deceptive trade practice. On top of that, they are arguing that this new feature is a tool of child predators and is making it harder for law enforcement to track down these individuals. Because of this, they are arguing that the court should issue a temporary restraining order, which would force Meta to stop using end-to-end encryption while the lawsuit progresses.

This is a very interesting lawsuit and has many potential ramifications. One of the biggest issues with this is that if Nevada is successful, it could open up many more lawsuits against companies that use end-to-end encryption, as it could be seen as a violation of state law. This could eventually lead to a situation where end-to-end encryption is no longer legally allowed, which would be a massive setback for cybersecurity and individual privacy.

The hearing for this case is today, so we should know more soon. I will be sure to update this piece with any important developments.