UK government can force encryption removal, but fears losing, experts say

Investigatory Powers Act lets UK compel removal of electronic protection but it would face enforcement challenges and risk driving targets to other services

The government already has the power to force technology firms to act as it wants over end-to-end encryption, but is avoiding using existing legislation as it would force it into a battle it would eventually lose, security experts have said.

The Investigatory Powers Act, made law in late 2016, allows the government to compel communications providers to remove "electronic protection applied " to any communications or data".