Germany 's criticism of the Interior is pondering changing the law to force messaging services , including WhatsApp , windows iMessage , email and Signal , to hand over plain - text versions of end - to - end encrypted messages via a mail order . prosecutors said the proposals were an invasion of privacy , and the decision to backdoor their code was technically unfeasible . The authorities said eliminating encrypted messaging would prevent criminals and terrorists from using the services .
Germany's Ministry of the Interior is pondering changing the law to force messaging services, including WhatsApp, Apple iMessage, Telegram and Signal, to hand over plain-text versions of end-to-end encrypted messages using a court order. Operators said the proposals were an invasion of privacy, and the requirement to backdoor their code was technically unfeasible. The authorities said eliminating encrypted messaging would prevent criminals and terrorists from using the services.