Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has joined a body of 60 organisations to issue a Global Statement on the Role of Encryption in Securing Trust and Enabling the Digital Economy, stressing that strong encryption is essential to the global digital economy. The statement notes that encryption safeguards user privacy, protects sensitive data, and enables trust, which they described as foundations of commerce, communication, and innovation.
According to the signatories, encryption is a vital tool for ensuring that consumers, businesses, and governments can confidently engage online, creating a secure environment that supports economic growth and cross-border collaboration. The statement warns that any effort to undermine encryption, including backdoors, key escrow systems, or technical mandates, undermines trust and introduces systemic vulnerabilities that criminals and hostile actors can exploit. It adds that “weakening encryption introduces systemic vulnerabilities that criminals and hostile actors can exploit, erodes consumer confidence, and drives users and businesses toward unsecure platforms,” while inconsistent national approaches risk fragmenting the global digital economy and creating barriers to trade and interoperability.
The statement also acknowledged the legitimate needs of law enforcement and national security agencies to access evidence and combat crime. However, it emphasises that these goals must be pursued through lawful, proportionate, and technologically sound means that do not compromise the safety and privacy of consumer and enterprise users. It calls on policymakers to strengthen, rather than weaken, the tools that protect shared digital infrastructure.
The statement added, “We collectively call on governments around the globe to advance policies that protect encryption as a vital enabler of digital trust and economic prosperity.” It also urges all stakeholders to ensure that strong encryption remains available to establish and maintain trust across the global digital economy.
Organisations that endorsed the statement include ACT | The App Association, AfICTA-Africa ICT Alliance, Africa Center for Education Technology and Innovation, Associazione Italiana Internet Provider, Business Software Alliance , Center for Democracy & Technology, Center for Online Safety and Liberty, Coalition of Services Industries (CSI), Computer and Communications Industry Association, Comunitatea Internet Association Connected Commerce Council, Consumer Choice Center Europe, Cybersecurity Advisors Network (CyAN), Danish Entrepreneurs, Data Rights, Demand Progress, Digital Rights Nepal (DRN), Digital Rights Zimbabwe, Digital Transparency, DigiTelHer, eco – Association of the Internet Industry, Engine, and European Internet Services Providers Association (EuroISPA).
Others are FiComry, Global Partners Digital, HOUSE OF AFRICA, Human Rights Journalists Network Nigeria, Information Technology Industry Council, Internet Australia, Internet Governance Project at Georgia Tech, Internet Infrastructure Coalition, Internet Safe Kids Africa, Internet Society, Internet Society Brazil Chapter, Internet Society Catalan Chapter, Internet Society India Hyderabad Chapter, Internet Society Jamaica Chapter, Internet Society Mali Chapter, Internet Society Paraguay Chapter, Internet Society United Kingdom Chapter, and Japan Association of New Economy.
Also included are Japan Association of New Economy, JCA-NET (Japan), Kijiji Yeetu, Koneta Hub, LGBT Tech, Media Rights Agenda (MRA), National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC), OpenMedia, Pristine SACC Education and Technology Initiative, Privacy & Access Council of Canada, Restore The Fourth, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), TechFreedom, Technology Trade Regulation Alliance (TTRA), TEDIC, UBUNTEAM, US-ASEAN Business Council and VPN Trust Initiative.
