The Prime Minister Wants Access to Your iMessage and WhatsApp to Stop Terrorism

In the wake of Britain's recent terror attacks, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said Australia's secret services need access to messages from popular apps to stop potential acts of terror.

He explained that encrypted messaging apps like Apple's iMessage and WhatsApp, which the Prime Minister admits to using himself, are helping potential terrorists evade attention.

"[Terrorists] use social media and the internet very skillfully," Turnbull said. "[O]ur security services need to be able to get access to them... So we need to have a full court press against violent extremism."

He cited the San Bernardino attack in the U.S. as an example of how app companies don't cooperate with counter-terrorism attempts. 

In 2015, the FBI and Apple went head-to-head when Apple refused to de-encrypt the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone. 

PM Turnbull echoed the sentiments of incumbent British Prime Minister Theresa May, who announced similar interest in regulating social media platforms that provide safe spaces for terrorist chatter.

"That is precisely what the internet, and the big companies that provide internet-based services provide," May said after the London Bridge attack on the weekend.

At this stage, it is still not entirely clear what information Turnbull is hoping to get from Apple and Facebook's messaging apps.

The London Bridge attack has left seven dead, including two young Australians, as well as a further 48 injured. It happened on the eve of the Manchester charity concert which was held in order to raise money for victims of the Manchester Arena bombing at an Ariana Grande concert just two weeks ago.

Photo: iStock