The missing clue: Why backpacker Theo Hayez’s WhatsApp messages may NEVER be unlocked as his heartbroken father pleads with the tech giant to release them
- Theo Hayez was last seen leaving the Cheeky Monkey’s bar at 11pm on May 31
- His father has travelled to Byron Bay to help find him and bring his son home
- WhatsApp may not be able to access the messages he was sending that night
- Messaging app confirmed it is assisting authorities to the best of their ability
The 18-year-old was last seen on May 31st
The family of a missing teenage backpacker are adamant encoded messages on his WhatsApp account may hold the key to his whereabouts, but can’t access them.
Laurent Hayez travelled to Byron Bay to help search for his son Theo, who went missing in the seaside town in Australia on May 31.
He was last seen leaving the Cheeky Monkey bar at about 11pm and never returned to the WakeUp! Backpacker hostel, where his passport and belongings were found.
Police and family confirmed Theo was using WhatsApp to communicate on the night he went missing, but the encrypted messaging service may not be able to access his information even with the go-ahead from police.
WhatsApp confirmed it is assisting authorities to the best of the company’s ability, but rigid laws mean the company can only help ‘in accordance with applicable law.’
Police previously released footage showing Mr Hayez walking from the Cheeky Monkey’s nightclub wearing a black hooded jumper, beige pants and black shoes
The company said in a statement: ‘Our hearts go out to Theo Hayez and his family.’
‘We understand the important work being carried out by law enforcement and are assisting them in accordance with applicable law and our terms of service.’
WhatsApp confirmed it is assisting authorities to the best of the company’s ability
WhatsApp is an encrypted messaging and voice calling service owned by Facebook which uses sophisticated technology to ensure its users data cannot be hacked or intercepted during transmission.
Messages are garbled using code which means no one else can get to it to avoid any major security breaches.
Mr Hayez’s father made a tearful plea to the Australian public asking them not to give up on searching for his son.
He said the family was aware Theo used WhatsApp on the night he went missing, and believes the messages contained on the app may hold crucial information for the case.
Mr Hayez said he ‘respected the [app’s strict confidentiality] rules’ but said in this circumstance, the information on the app may be crucial to the investigation.
‘We know Theo used WhatsApp the night he disappeared. We understand the politics about confidentiality and respect that. But this is a question of providing assistance to a person in grave danger.
‘It is vital that investigators get access to Theo’s WhatsApp account without delay. Every minute counts.’
Australian police confirmed they are working alongside Belgian authorities to help track Theo’s last movements.
Belgian police are speaking with Theo’s friends and family back at home to see if anybody was in contact with him via WhatsApp after his disappearance.
Officers from Tweed/Byron Police District have resumed the search for Theo this morning.
The devastated father of a Belgian teenager who has been missing in Australia for 17 days promised his youngest son he would bring the 18-year-old home