Encryption Resources

Encryption is a crucial feature of a safe and trustworthy Internet. Encryption keeps personal information safe and is also critical to national security, protecting society from terrorists, criminals, and hostile governments. 

But encryption is under threat. Some people want to introduce flaws into encryption systems and this makes encryption less safe for everyone. See how we’re promoting and defending encryption around the world and find out how you can stand up for encryption in our resources section. 

Factsheets

Info Guides

Reports

Webcasts and Events

Archive of past encryption-related events.

Open Letters, Statements, and Submissions

Open letters, statements, and submissions that the Internet Society has authored or contributed to. 

In the Press

Articles written by Internet Society staff.

• From LGBT+ People to Journalists, Strong Encryption is Crucial for Making the Internet Safer for Everyone – Thomson Reuters Foundation News, 17 November 2021
• Encryption Protects the Marginalised – and It’s Under Threat – Computer Weekly, 14 October 2021
• If You See Something, Say Something – maskmatters.org, September 2021 (originally published in subscription-only publication)
• I Confess I’ve Got Things to Hide – EurActiv, 19 August 2021
• The Role of Encryption in Protecting LGBTQ+ Community Members – Dark Reading, 28 June 2021
• The Online Safety Bill Puts the Security of All Citizens and Communities at Risk – The House, 15 June 2021
• WhatsApp Complying with Traceability Will Create Technical Vulnerabilities that Can be Exploited – DataQuest India, 3 June 2021
• The New IT Rules would undermine end-to-end encryption – CIOL, 2 June 2021
• What Public Servants Need to Know About Securing their Communications – Apolitical, 6 May 2021
• The False Promise of Lawful Access to Private Data – Wired, 16 May 2019
• Laisser les Etats décrypter et filtrer Internet peut créer un préjudice pour les citoyens et l’économie (Allowing States to Decipher and Filter the Internet Can Harm Citizens and the Economy) – Le Monde, 16 May 2019

Blog Posts

Our latest blog posts on encryption.

Technical Community Resources

Technical community initiatives that the Internet Society has contributed to or supported.

• Securing Journalism: The importance of encryption in protecting media freedom, 7 June 2023
• Let’s Encrypt: The Internet Society supports the Let’s Encrypt Initiative, which provides free certificates to websites for Transport Layer Security (TLS) and automates the process, making it easier and cheaper for websites to use TLS.
• IAB Statement: Avoiding Unintended Harm to Internet Infrastructure, 4 September 2019
• W3C: Securing the Web, 22 January 2015
• Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory Technical Report: Keys Under Doormats: Mandating insecurity by requiring government access to all data and communications, 6 July 2015
• IETF 2528:  Pervasive Monitoring Is an Attack, May 2014
• IAB Statement on Internet Confidentiality, 14 November 2014

Community Highlights

Activities and initiatives on encryption from our chapters, special interest groups (SIGs) and members around the world.

Brazilian Code of Criminal Procedure reform must not undermine encryption

28 June 2022: Four Internet Society chapters sign Global Encryption Coalition open letter urging Brazilian Code of Criminal Procedure reform not to undermine encryption

The Internet Society Brazil Chapter created a fact sheet explaining why encryption is essential for the LGBTQIA+ community

16 June 2021

Open Letter to the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union on the Freedom of Use of Encryption

14 April 2021: Signed by 12 European chapters of the Internet Society

Don’t Poke Holes in Our Digital Security Shield

13 April 2021: Lennart Schulze urged people to tell the EU that their narrative that ‘encryption harms kids’ isn’t correct. Encryption is foundational to security – and is key to keeping children and youth safe online.

Encryption in the News

Media coverage on encryption.

ITEdgeNews

Strengthening the Internet 23 October 2022

Tech players, civil society groups want governments to protect encryption

ITEdgeNews

TECHNOLOGY MIRROR

Strengthening the Internet 19 October 2022

WhatsApp Warns Governments Weakening Encryption Features Will Backfire on Safety Issues

TECHNOLOGY MIRROR

MEDIANAMA

Strengthening the Internet 28 September 2022

Internet Society Brief: CSAM Proposal Must Be Redrafted To Protect Open And Unrestricted Internet

MEDIANAMA

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