The United States and the United Kingdom are seizing on Facebook Inc.'s plan to apply end-to-end encryption across its messaging services to press for major changes to a practice long opposed by law enforcement, saying it hinders the fight against child abuse and terrorism.
The two countries planned to sign a special data agreement Thursday that will fast-track requests from law enforcement to technology companies for information about the communications of terrorists and child predators, according to documents reviewed by Reuters.
Law enforcement could get information in weeks or even days instead of the current wait of six months to two years, one document said.