[Cryptography] Signal chat fallout.

[Christian Huitema]

On 3/26/2025 6:41 PM, Ray Dillinger wrote:

about all the issues with cell phones, and then this:

> Additionally, the use of an e2e app which automatically deletes 
> messages (one of Signal's features) for government business appears to 
> be a violation of the US Federal Records act.

.. and I have some sympathy for people who don't want everything 
recorded and archived. You can't help thinking that there was some kind 
of mission creep. The 1950 version of the act applied to "records", such 
as an official decision. That was last extended by the Obama 
administration to include "every electronic record". And now we appear 
to believe that every text message is an electronic record. What's next? 
Install microphones and keep a record of every conversation held in the 
bathroom?

Of course, the US Federal Records act focuses on elected politicians, 
and it is hard to muster much sympathy for politicians, especially when 
they are on the other side. But then these things drift. Suppose a 
company gets a document retention order as part of a lawsuit. Should it 
really apply to more or less related email? Text messages? Conversations 
in the bathroom? Do we want to all live in a panopticon?

-- Christian Huitema