SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
from the We-[want-to]-see-what-you-did-there dept.
FBI: End-to-End Encryption Is an Infectious Problem
Just in case there were any lingering doubts about U.S. law enforcement's stance on end-to-end encryption, which prevents information from being read by anyone but its intended recipient, FBI executive assistant director Amy Hess told the Wall Street Journal this week that its use "is a problem that infects law enforcement and the intelligence community more and more so every day."
The quote was published in a piece about efforts from the UK, Australia and India to undermine end-to-end encryption. All three countries have passed or proposed legislation that compels tech companies to supply certain information to government agencies. The laws vary in their specifics, including restrictions on to what information law enforcement can request access, but the gist is that they don't want any data to be completely inaccessible.
Related: FBI Chief Calls for National Talk Over Encryption vs. Safety
FBI Failed to Access 7,000 Encrypted Mobile Devices
DOJ: Strong Encryption That We Don't Have Access to is "Unreasonable"
Five Eyes Governments Get Even Tougher on Encryption
Apple Speaks Out Against Australian Anti-Encryption Law; Police Advised Not to Trigger Face ID
Australia Set to Pass Controversial Encryption Law
Split Key Cryptography is Back... Again – Why Government Back Doors Don't Work
(Score: 2) by takyon on Wednesday February 27 2019, @11:43PM (1 child)
The NSA could be cracking assumed-to-be-safe encryption methods right now and it would take years for us to find out. They are also going to be all over quantum computers if they become practical.
FBI officials have been whining about encryption for years, while exploiting vulnerabilities, buying phone cracking equipment, running honeypots, etc. But it's starting to become ubiquitous and even the tech giants are putting end-to-end encryption in some services.
What might happen is that Congress could put "using encryption to conceal criminal activity" into the law books as a new federal crime. Or they could criminalize not giving up the keys. If those laws survive Constitutional scrutiny, then they don't have to ban encryption. They can just fuck you over for using it.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by opinionated_science on Thursday February 28 2019, @03:59PM
I like being modded a troll! Nice and warm under that bridge ;-)
The Founders understood very well how easy it was for a $GOVT to trap its people with law - that's why the 4th and 5th amndts are so important.
It's also why the government can't be trusted. Remember, all the levers of power are still in place, no matter who you vote for.
With the current political farce playing out, it still looks like the most valuable evidence is check stubs!!