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According to TechDirt:
It's beginning to look like a US-based encrypted communications platform may be headed for a Lavabit-esque future. As we're well aware, agencies like the FBI and NSA are firmly opposed to encrypted communications, which is something Surespot -- a text-messaging service -- offers.
Surespot has been in the news lately, thanks to terrorist groups utilizing encrypted services to keep their communications secret. UK's Channel Four looked into Surespot and found that 115 "ISIS-linked" people "appear" to have used the service in the "past six months." Because UK 4 wasn't able to get this information from Surespot directly (because Surespot doesn't store personally identifiable information or users' communications), it has only been able to infer this from messages on social media services that refer to Surespot.
What this means in terms of terrorists "flocking" to encrypted apps is still very vague, but there's no doubt any additional layers of secrecy are welcomed by those wishing to hide their communications. What 115 ISIS-linked users means in terms of an installed user base of at least 100,000 is also open for discussion, but it's quite obvious there are plenty of non-terrorists using the service as well.
[..]
George Maschke of Antipolygraph.org has been periodically sending emails to Surespot, unofficially acting as the service's warrant canary. For several months, his questions have been answered. But as of May 25th, he has still received no response to his canned questions.
There's good reason to believe this is true. A recent plea agreement by a 17-year-old Virginia native charged with providing material support to ISIS (via instructions on how to use Bitcoin to provide anonymous donations) specifically mentions Surespot.
Original Submission
(Score: 5, Interesting) by Nerdfest on Monday June 15 2015, @03:42PM
Would serving warrants to companies like this, and thus destroying their businesses be covered by some of the ridiculous trade agreement features that entitles businesses to compensation when legislation costs them profit? Obviously these "give us everything you have on everyone" warrants and NSLs are costing these guys business.
Those who want encryption will just revert to doing it themselves ... seriously, encrypted chat or email is quite easy if not quite as convenient.
(Score: 2) by Whoever on Monday June 15 2015, @03:53PM
Entitled? Perhaps. Able to prove it? No (state secrets)!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 15 2015, @04:41PM
If they were able to prove it they'd likely wake up in the reknown vacation resort Gitmo one morning.
(Score: 1) by caffeinated bacon on Tuesday June 16 2015, @06:53AM
You think this would go to a court and be proven?
A tribunal will hear 'evidence' that encrypted communications company abc was making $x, but now is making zero. Pay the difference, case closed.
If they have an even half competent 'legal team' they will argue that the company was undergoing rapid growth and that the future profits would be y times $x, pay that instead.