Use Snapchat or WhatsApp to keep in touch with British relatives? You might want to enjoy that while it lasts.

As the British general election campaign begins and European tension mounts over the recent Paris attacks, Prime Minister David Cameron has suggested banning encrypted messaging services if British intelligence agencies were not allowed access to the communications. Snapchat, Apple's iMessage, and WhatsApp all encrypt the messages sent through their applications, along with innumerable other services.

British PM David Cameron at a campaign speech. Credit:Reuters

"Are we going to allow a means of communications which it simply isn't possible to read?" he asked during a campaign speech. "My answer to that is: 'No, we must not.'"

Cameron suggested the measures would come as part of large-scale surveillance legislation which his Conservative government would implement if re-elected.