WhatsApp and Signal unite against online safety bill amid privacy concerns

Encrypted chat apps sign open letter warning of unprecedented threat to safety and security' of UK citizens

• Age checks, trolls and deepfakes: what's in the online safety bill?

The rival chat apps WhatsApp and Signal have joined forces in a rare show of unity to protest against the online safety bill, which they say could undermine the UK's privacy and safety.

In an open letter signed by the heads of both organisations as well as five other encrypted chat apps, the executives say the bill could be used to in effect outlaw end-to-end encryption, which prevents anyone but the intended recipient of a message from seeing its contents.