Britain said WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption communication services allowed pedophiles and organized crime groups to operate beyond the reach of the law and called on the messaging service to move faster to help governments catch offenders.
After four militant attacks in Britain that killed 36 people this year, senior ministers have repeatedly demanded that internet companies do more to suppress extremist content and allow access to encrypted communications.
In the face of resistance from the industry, Prime Minister Theresa May — a former interior minister — proposed trying to regulate cyberspace after a deadly attack on London Bridge in June.