WhatsApp Messenger could leave the UK market in the event that a new internet safety law is implemented. This law is a comprehensive piece of legislation that will impact a wide range of online activities. One of the proposed changes is a content moderation policy that is not compatible with WhatsApp's use of end-to-end encryption due to privacy concerns.
According to the source, the proposed bill would grant the Office of Communications (Ofcom), the UK telecoms regulator, the authority to mandate that social media and other platforms employ technology to combat terrorism and child abuse. In addition, revenue penalties could be imposed for non-compliance. Companies would be expected to exert maximum effort to create or procure the technology needed to comply with regulatory requirements. Service providers are required to make "best endeavours" to create or obtain technology that adheres to the notice. However, messaging apps that utilize "end-to-end encryption" (E2EE) to secure user data assert that it is technically impossible to access user messages without breaching their commitments to users. They have thus stated that this is a step they will not take.
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