The EFF is calling out tech giants for failing on encryption

According to Android Authority, the Electronic Frontier Foundation has launched a new public pressure campaign called “Encrypt It Already.” This initiative directly calls out specific privacy failures from Apple, Google, and Meta, challenging them to make strong end-to-end encryption the default for all users. The campaign, echoing the EFF’s 2019 “Fix It Already” effort, provides people with social media toolkits and templates to publicly demand better privacy. It encourages users to upvote feature requests on company forums for platforms like Telegram and Ring. The core argument is that companies must not only implement encryption technology but also explain it clearly, offer easy controls, and collect minimal data.

Public shaming as a tool

Here’s the thing: tech companies love to talk about privacy in their keynote speeches and marketing materials. But when it comes to the hard work of implementing default end-to-end encryption across their sprawling ecosystems? They drag their feet. And the EFF has decided that polite, behind-the-scenes advocacy isn’t cutting it anymore. So they’re turning to public shaming. This strategy makes sense. These companies are incredibly sensitive to brand perception. A coordinated wave of user complaints, using the EFF’s provided templates on EncryptItAlready.org, creates a visible, measurable signal that this isn’t just a niche concern for activists.

The real sticking point

But why are these giants so hesitant? It’s not really a technical problem anymore. We know it can be done—look at Signal or WhatsApp. The issue, I think, is about control and data. End-to-end encryption means the company itself can’t read your messages or access your data. That’s great for you, but it limits their ability to mine that data for advertising, “content moderation,” or other features they might want to build. Turning encryption on by default is a conscious decision to give up a layer of access. That’s a huge corporate culture shift for firms built on data collection. The EFF’s full argument is detailed in their deep dive post, and it’s worth a read.

What you can do right now

Look, we can’t wait for these companies to have a sudden change of heart. The advice is simple but urgent: go into the settings of every app you use and turn on every end-to-end encryption option you can find. For iCloud, that’s Advanced Data Protection. For messaging, opt for Signal or WhatsApp’s secret chats. And then, use the EFF’s tools to tell these companies, loudly, that this shouldn’t be a hidden, opt-in feature. It should be the baseline. Public pressure works. It’s how we got better HTTPS adoption and other security standards. Basically, if users don’t demand it as a default, companies have zero incentive to make it one. For more discovery on this topic, you can check out this source.