EU seeks to outlaw 'backdoors' in new data privacy proposals

Draft report from European parliament clashes with UK government calls to allow access to encrypted communications from WhatsApp and others

The European Union is considering banning the implementation of so-called "backdoors" that allow the reading of encrypted messaging, a move that would place it in conflict with the UK government's desire to have access to all secure communications.

The draft report by the European parliament's committee on civil liberties, justice and home affairs says the data protection regulations have not kept pace with advances in technology and that amendments to the 2002 regulation on privacy and electronic communications (ePrivacy) are required.