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posted by mrpg on Sunday October 14 2018, @12:21PM   Printer-friendly
from the I-aint-checkin-all-those-links-buster dept.

Apple argues stronger encryption will thwart criminals in letter to Australian government

Apple has long been a proponent for strong on-device encryption, most notably for its iPhones and the iOS operating system. This has often frustrated law enforcement agencies both in the US and overseas, many of which claim the company's encryption tools and policies are letting criminals avoid capture by masking communications and securing data from the hands of investigators.

Now, in a letter to the Australian government, Apple says it thinks encryption is in fact a benefit and public good that will only strength our protections against cyberattacks and terrorism. In Apple's eyes, encryption makes everyone's devices harder to hack and less vulnerable to take-overs, viruses, and other malicious attacks that could undermine personal and corporate security, as well as public infrastructure and services. Apple is specifically responding to the Australian Parliament's Assistance and Access Bill, which was introduced late last month and is designed to help the government more easily access the devices and data of criminals during active investigations.

Letter here (#53), or at Scribd and DocumentCloud.

Also at Ars Technica, Engadget, 9to5Mac, and AppleInsider.

Police told to avoid looking at recent iPhones to avoid lockouts

Police have yet to completely wrap their heads around modern iPhones like the X and XS, and that's clearer than ever thanks to a leak. Motherboard has obtained a presentation slide from forensics company Elcomsoft telling law enforcement to avoid looking at iPhones with Face ID. If they gaze at it too many times (five), the company said, they risk being locked out much like Apple's Craig Federighi was during the iPhone X launch event. They'd then have to enter a passcode that they likely can't obtain under the US Constitution's Fifth Amendment, which protects suspects from having to provide self-incriminating testimony.

Also at 9to5Mac.

Related:


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  • (Score: 2) by sjames on Monday October 15 2018, @01:34AM (4 children)

    by sjames (2882) on Monday October 15 2018, @01:34AM (#748778) Journal

    But to use your face or fingerprint, they need some sort of action from you. Effectively conscripting you to perform some action for them that grants them access to your papers and effects.

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  • (Score: 3, Informative) by BK on Monday October 15 2018, @04:02AM (3 children)

    by BK (4868) on Monday October 15 2018, @04:02AM (#748815)

    they need some sort of action from you

    They need you to exist. I'm not sure that's an action.

    They need you to be present with your device. They'll bring the device to you; no action needed.

    They may need you to look at the device. Or they can move it to wherever you prefer to gaze.

    It sure seems like your *presence* is something that they can reasonably seek a warrant for. That's what they do for DNA now. And fingerprints.

    --
    ...but you HAVE heard of me.
    • (Score: 2) by sjames on Monday October 15 2018, @03:01PM (2 children)

      by sjames (2882) on Monday October 15 2018, @03:01PM (#749074) Journal

      They may need you to look at the device.

      • (Score: 2) by BK on Monday October 15 2018, @04:21PM (1 child)

        by BK (4868) on Monday October 15 2018, @04:21PM (#749112)

        They may need you to look at the device.

        Or they can move it to wherever you prefer to gaze.
        It sure seems like... something that they can reasonably seek a warrant for.

        I guess we've exhausted this one?

        --
        ...but you HAVE heard of me.
        • (Score: 2) by sjames on Monday October 15 2018, @04:35PM

          by sjames (2882) on Monday October 15 2018, @04:35PM (#749117) Journal

          So if I close my eyes and the face ID wants them open, they're cool with that?

          Seems that what we need is Face ID where if you wink, it does a secure delete.