On Global Encryption Day, Let's Stand Up for Privacy and Security

At EFF, we talk a lot about strong encryption. It’s critical for our privacy and security online. That’s why we litigate in courts to protect the right to encrypt, build technologies to encrypt the web, and it’s why we lead the fight against anti-encryption legislation like last year’s EARN IT Act.

We’ve seen big victories in our fight to defend encryption. But we haven’t done it alone. That’s why we’re proud this year to join dozens of other organizations in the Global Encryption Coalition as we celebrate the first Global Encryption Day, which is today, October 21, 2021.

For this inaugural year, we’re joining our partner organizations to ask people, companies, governments, and NGOs to “Make the Switch” to strong encryption. We’re hoping this day can encourage people to make the switch to end-to-end encrypted platforms, creating a more secure and private online world. It’s a great time to turn on encryption on all the devices or services you use, or switch to an end-to-end encrypted app for messaging—and talk to others about why you made that choice. Using strong passwords and two-factor authentication are also security measures that can help keep you safe. 

If you already have a handle on encryption and its benefits, today would be a great day to talk to a friend about it. On social media, we’re using the hashtag #MakeTheSwitch.

The Global Encryption Day website has some ideas about what you could do to make your online life more private and secure. Another great resource is EFF’s Surveillance Self Defense Guide, where you can get tips on everything from private web browsing, to using encrypted apps, to keeping your privacy in particular security scenarios—like attending a protest, or crossing the U.S. border. 

We need to keep talking about the importance of encryption, partly because it’s under threat. In the U.S. and around the world, law enforcement agencies have been seeking an encryption “backdoor” to access peoples’ messages. At EFF, we’ve resisted these efforts for decades. We’ve also pushed back against efforts like client-side scanning, which would break the promises of user privacy and security while technically maintaining encryption.

If you already have a handle on encryption and its benefits, today would be a great day to talk to a friend about it. On social media, we’re using the hashtag #MakeTheSwitch.

The Global Encryption Coalition is listing events around the world today. EFF Senior Staff Technologist Erica Portnoy will be participating in an “Ask Me Anything” about encryption on Reddit, at 17:00 UTC, which is 10:00 A.M. Pacific Time. Jon Callas, EFF Director of Technology Projects, will join an online panel about how to improve user agency in end-to-end encrypted services, on Oct. 28.