Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox
Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter
Theresa May fiercely criticised technology companies in the wake of the London Bridge terror attack, but can’t expect to achieve anything by making "one-sided" appeals, says a cybersecurity expert.
However, Ms May needs to ensure the protection of citizens’ rights, before attempting to point the finger of blame at others.
Gadget and tech news: In pictures
Show all 25
“Any request for a tech company to do more than is required needs to come with corresponding government actions to protect citizens, so we don’t end up putting their rights at risk,” Simon Crosby, the co–founder and CTO of Bromium, told The Independent.
“There has to be a collaborative effort going forward, taking the rights of the people, the reputation of the tech community, and what the government wants into account.”
“We cannot allow this ideology the safe space it needs to breed,” she said. “Yet that is precisely what the internet, and the big companies that internet-based services provide.
“We need to work with allied democratic governments to reach international agreements that regulate cyberspace to prevent the spread of extremist and terrorism planning.”
“It is perfectly reasonable to make laws that protect society,” said Mr Crosby. “However, right now the tech community distrusts government when it tries to intervene in this way. This is because they are being asked to break their promise of guaranteeing the security of their customer data by opening it up to the government.
“What does it mean to a big tech company when a government asks to look at their data? They lose the trust of their customers.
“Theresa May is not in control of this situation; the tech companies are, so she can’t make a one-sided appeal. Additionally, the broad use of surveillance freaks everyone out.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies