Article: A Lapse of Grace: Encryption Bans as Potential Expropriation Claims - Arbitration: The International Journal of Arbitration, Mediation and Dispute Management View Article: A Lapse of Grace: Encryption Bans as Potential Expropriation Claims by - Arbitration: The International Journal of Arbitration, Mediation and Dispute Management Article: A Lapse of Grace: Encryption Bans as Potential Expropriation Claims 88 4

Regulatory interventions to prevent perceived harms of emerging technologies may likely pave the way for tech-related disputes between a host state and a foreign corporation. One such emerging technology whose harms and widespread use features in recent debates is end-to-end encryption (E2EE). This article examines an outright ban of end-to-end encrypted instant messaging platforms, based on the ‘going dark’ concerns of governments, as a potential expropriation claim. This article attempts to answer whether there has been a substantial deprivation, and whether non-compensation is justified for such a deprivation by carrying out effects-based, purpose-based, and balancing analyses. The findings of this study demonstrate that although the effects of the ban may be tantamount to expropriation, such a finding is not evident in a purpose-based or proportionality analyses.    

Arbitration: The International Journal of Arbitration, Mediation and Dispute Management