Telegram messaging app struggles to block ISIS sites
One analyst from a prominent hackers’ group says blocking or breaking encryption methods is not the solution.
“Encryption is everywhere. What’s App is encrypted, banking systems are encrypted… if we say ‘we must be able to break encryptions as a state regulator’ it’ll only lead to all citizens being tapped – but not the criminal terrorists because they use unbreakable encryption,” responded Frank Rieger of the Chaos Computer Club, which describes itself as Europe’s largest association of hackers.
Two months ago a new public broadcast feature of Telegram became the preferred communication method for ISIS.
The group used it to claim responsibility for the Paris attacks and the bombing of a Russian airliner over Egypt.
Some channels gained thousands of followers.
Telegram explicitly says it makes efforts to block ISIS, but unlike Twitter it is accused of having done nothing until this week to prevent it from operating.