Meredith Whittaker has spent years arguing that privacy is a prerequisite for a free society.

As the president of the nonprofit foundation behind the encrypted messaging app Signal, she now finds herself defending that principle in the face of mounting pressure from governments and tech companies alike.

In this conversation with Mishal Husain, Whittaker says she believes business models that rely on data collection, the rise of artificial intelligence assistants and even well-meaning efforts to protect children online risk undermining private communication. She also explains why Signal would rather leave a market than weaken the product’s encryption.

If you enjoyed this episode, listen to Mishal’s conversation with Mustafa Suleyman from Microsoft AI: Mustafa Suleyman Isn’t Like Everyone Else in Silicon Valley

Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net

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