Race for encrypted email systems heats up

Kim Dotcom, of Megaupload  scandal fame, is building an encrypted email system that runs on "cutting-edge" encryption technology, reports RT.

There's been a spat of privacy-based communications companies shutting down of their own volition rather than cooperate with governmental surveillance measures.

Two heavyweight names in the encrypted email space, Lavabit and Silent Mail, have taken themselves out of commission in what many consider an honorable act of "privacy seppuku." They did this because they preferred to go out of service rather than allow the government access to their system.

Mega's email-system-to-come will run on foreign servers that aren't subject to the same laws that they would be at home. Here's exciting detail from the RT story:

According to the company’s founder Dotcom, Mega doesn’t hold decryption keys to customer accounts and “never will”, thus making it impossible for it to read the emails. This also means that Mega by design cannot be forced to rat on its users by intelligence agencies.

More from our partner, Business InsiderThe Rise Of The Renting And Sharing Economy Could Have Catastrophic Ripple Effects

People Think Bill Ackman Is Having A Stress-Induced Meltdown, But Someone Who Knows Him Says He's Having 'Fun'

The Truth About Jeff Bezos' Amazing 10,000 Year Clock

The Treasury Bond Market Could Get Ugly Between Now And September 19

WARNING: Report Says Apple Is Struggling To Make The iPhone 5S

Invest in independent global news

The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!