&gt; <i>How did anybody ever get convicted before the age of WhatsApp, or for that matter the invention of the telephone.</i><p>A nitpick, but I really dislike this line of reasoning. Before WhatsApp criminals communicated using different means which were easier to monitor. Now that they have WhatsApp (or whatever), they will use that <i>instead</i> of easier to monitor methods. A move to modern communication tools gives them an edge over law enforcement, so it&#x27;s no surprise LE feels a pressing need to do something about it. It&#x27;s an arms race.