John Bell Warns Quantum Computing Could Crack Encryption on 6 June
Updated
Updated · New Scientist · Jul 1
John Bell Warns Quantum Computing Could Crack Encryption on 6 June
1 articles · Updated · New Scientist · Jul 1
Summary
John Bell used a 6 June letter to warn that “Q-Day” — when quantum computers can break encryption — is being treated as inevitable rather than preventable.
Bell argued the threat stems from an active engineering choice to keep advancing quantum computing without first securing digital systems against code-breaking.
He said a rational response would be to limit quantum development, lock in post-quantum encryption standards, and only then proceed.
Bell cast the issue as a broader test of society’s ability to halt self-destructive technological paths before they create wider existential risks.
When Q-Day arrives, will older devices from cars to pacemakers become ticking time bombs of digital insecurity?
Is the 2029 quantum 'apocalypse' a real threat, or a manufactured panic by tech giants and governments?
Q-Day Countdown: Why 2029 Is the Deadline for Quantum-Safe Encryption
Overview
The threat of 'Q-Day'—when quantum computers could break today’s standard encryption—has been known since the 1990s, but recent warnings from major tech companies and rapid progress in quantum computing have drastically shortened the expected timeline. Google’s 2026 warning suggests that quantum computers might be able to hack some encrypted systems as early as 2029, compressing the window for organizations to secure their data. This urgency is driven by the potential for advanced quantum computers to undermine widely used cryptographic systems like RSA-2048, even though such a computer does not yet exist. As a result, Google and others are targeting 2029 to secure the 'quantum era' with post-quantum cryptography.