Plausible deniability is denying knowledge of or involvement in an event or conversation without lying. Secure messaging means that even if someone accesses your encrypted messages, they cannot prove that you sent or received specific messages. Even if your encrypted messages are intercepted or accessed, the content of those messages cannot be attributed to you with certainty.
High-risk environments
Imagine you are a journalist operating in a country with a repressive regime. You need to communicate sensitive information with your sources and colleagues without leaving any trace that could compromise your safety or the safety of your contacts. In this case, plausible deniability is a critical requirement. If your protected text encrypted messages are denied plausibly, it provides an extra layer of protection. Even if the authorities intercept your messages, they cannot prove you were involved in the communication. This could be the difference between safety and facing severe repercussions, including imprisonment or worse.
Confidential business communications
Consider a scenario where you are a business owner discussing highly confidential merger plans with your partners. You need to ensure that the details of these discussions remain secure and cannot be traced back to you if they fall into the wrong hands. By employing plausible deniability in your secure messaging, you add a layer of protection for your business. If the information is leaked, you can deny involvement, and the content of the messages cannot be used to implicate you or your partners. This helps maintain the confidentiality of sensitive business dealings.
Whistleblowing and sensitive information disclosure
Whistleblowers often face tremendous risks when exposing wrongdoing within organizations or governments. In such situations, secure messaging with plausible deniability is a lifeline. For example, a government employee uncovers evidence of corruption and needs to communicate this information to a journalist or a legal team. If the message is plausibly denied, it protects the whistleblower’s identity and provides them safety. Even if the messages are intercepted, the whistleblower denies sending them, making it harder for the perpetrators to retaliate.
How does plausible deniability work in practice?
Message deniability refers to denying sending or receiving a specific message. Some secure messaging apps achieve this by allowing users to set passwords for individual messages. Only the recipient with the correct password decrypts and reads the message. If the message is intercepted, the sender can deny sending it, as the content is encrypted and inaccessible without the password.
Some secure messaging apps allow users to create anonymous accounts, further enhancing plausible deniability. Removing personally identifiable information from the messaging process makes linking messages to a specific individual challenging. This is particularly useful when anonymity is crucial, such as whistleblowing or communicating in high-risk environments. Some apps employ features that restrict message forwarding and notify senders when a recipient takes a screenshot. This discourages disseminating messages beyond the intended recipient, reducing the risk of sensitive information being exposed or used out of context.
