# Brits Want Their Encrypted Messages to Stay Private Poll finds two-thirds don't trust the government with access to their encrypted chats. - **Source:** [Hacker News: Front Page](https://brifing.si/source/b07aa772-b1a0-4a76-aa18-719c6f9e2dde) - **Published:** 2026-08-30 - **Topic:** [Software & Engineering](https://brifing.si/c/engineering) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/afbb25b1-4a0b-48dc-b07d-a6404fc94567 ## Public Demand for Privacy A poll commissioned by the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) found that 93% of British adults believe they have a right to private conversations online. 89% think no one should access their personal messages without a court order. These results highlight the public's emphasis on the privacy of encrypted messages. ## Lack of Trust in Government Two-thirds of respondents said they would not trust the current government or any future one with the power to access encrypted messages. This distrust crosses political lines, indicating widespread concern among voters of all parties. ## Views Across Political Parties Among those who voted in the 2024 general election, 58% of Labour voters, 59% of Conservatives, 56% of Liberal Democrats, 69% of Greens, and 75% of Reform voters said they wouldn't trust any government with the power to access encrypted messages. This shows that distrust is a bipartisan issue. ## Apple and the Technical Capability Notice Apple withdrew Advanced Data Protection for UK users after receiving a secret Technical Capability Notice (TCN) under the Investigatory Powers Act. Apple challenged the order, and the US government later stated that Britain had withdrawn its demand for access to Americans' encrypted data. ## Public Lack of Awareness 55% of respondents had not heard about Apple's Technical Capability Notice. Even when informed, only 12% supported the government's ability to secretly order companies to provide access to users' information without disclosure. 33% believed the government should not have this power at all. ## Security vs. Law Enforcement 53% of participants said the security risks of accessing encrypted messages outweigh the benefits, while 28% believed the benefits were greater. This reflects the public's sensitivity to the balance between security and law enforcement. ## Privacy Concerns 84% of respondents worried that mechanisms allowing access to encrypted messages could introduce vulnerabilities for hackers and criminals. 82% were concerned that these powers could be abused. These concerns highlight the public's sensitivity to privacy issues. ## Behavioral Changes 65% said knowing someone might be watching would make them more cautious about what they liked, shared, or commented on. 41% said they would self-censor criticism of public institutions or government officials. This demonstrates how privacy concerns can influence behavior. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.theregister.com/security/2026/08/30/turns-out-brits-would-quite-like-their-private-messages-to-stay-private/5292994 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._