Imagine the number 33,109. Can you figure out which two numbers multiply to give that? To uncover the two factors, you’d need to try every possible combination, testing numbers of varying size and narrowing down the possibilities through trial and error. This process, called brute force, involves testing all possible solutions until the right one is found. As the number grows larger—let’s say, with ten or more digits—this task becomes exponentially more difficult. The time it would take to solve the problem would quickly surpass the age of the universe itself.

But what if you already knew the two numbers? Then the task becomes trivial. Multiplying them together is quick and straightforward. The challenge is not in multiplying once you have the factors, but in figuring out what those factors are.

This is similar to how encryption works in many modern digital communication platforms, like WhatsApp and Messenger. When you send a message through these platforms, the content of your message is encrypted using a complex mathematical process based on one-way operations—functions that are easy to compute in one direction but extremely difficult to reverse without specific information.

Encryption relies on something called keys, which are essentially long strings of characters that lock and unlock data. There are two types of keys used in encryption: public keys and private keys. Think of the public key as a locked box—anyone can send you a message and lock it inside the box using your public key, but only you can unlock it with your private key, which only you know. This ensures that sensitive information stays protected, as even if someone intercepts the message while it’s in transit, they won’t be able to read it without the private key. As a result, the message remains inaccessible to anyone, including the service provider itself.

So, what does this mean in the real world? The implications are vast, not only for privacy but also for how we interact with digital communication platforms. The key point is that the platform itself doesn’t know what you’re saying. It knows that a message was sent, and it knows the metadata (like the time the message was sent or who sent it) but it has no idea what’s inside the message.

In 2023, during the UK’s COVID-19 inquiry, Boris Johnson was asked to hand over his WhatsApp messages [1]. A significant number of his messages were missing—not due to deletion but because encryption prevented even the government from accessing them.

This creates a paradox: while encryption protects privacy, it also complicates law enforcement access, even with a legal request. Encryption keeps conversations secure, visible only to the sender and recipient, and difficult to retrieve unless the physical device is accessed. This raises the challenge of balancing privacy with security—encryption protects communication, but it can also obstruct investigations when governments need access.

The power of encryption lies not just in its technical complexity, but in its ability to protect private communication. Encryption upholds the fundamental right to privacy in our increasingly digital world. By ensuring that the contents of our messages remain secure, encryption empowers individuals by limiting the reach of authorities—even when faced with public scrutiny, as seen in the UK government’s attempt to access Boris Johnson’s WhatsApp messages.

In case you were wondering, the factors of 33,109? They are 293 and 113. Now, imagine trying to find those of a much larger number. The complexity of the encryption process is similar—the larger and more complex the number, the harder it is to break.

Encryption isn’t just a safeguard against hackers; it’s a cornerstone of trust in the digital age. It empowers individuals to communicate securely, but as technology evolves, so too must the balance between privacy and security, ensuring that our words belong only to us and their intended recipients.

Footnotes:

1. The UK COVID-19 inquiry is an independent public investigation into the United Kingdom's response to the pandemic, examining areas such as preparedness, healthcare management, lockdown measures, and the government's decision-making processes. The inquiry began public hearings in June 2023, with its outcomes expected to inform future pandemic responses.