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posted by chromas on Thursday July 25 2019, @01:01PM   Printer-friendly
from the dipshit dept.

Low Barr: Don't give me that crap about security, just put the backdoors in the encryption, roars US Attorney General

If the cops and Feds can't read people's encrypted messages, you will install backdoors for us, regardless of the security hit, US Attorney General William Barr has told the technology world.

While speaking today in New York, Barr demanded eavesdropping mechanisms be added to consumer-level software and devices, mechanisms that can be used by investigators to forcibly decrypt and pry into strongly end-to-end encrypted chats, emails, files, and calls. No ifs, no buts.

And while this will likely weaken secure data storage and communications – by introducing backdoors that hackers and spies, as well as the cops and FBI, can potentially leverage to snoop on folks – it will be a price worth paying. And, after all, what do you really need that encryption for? Your email and selfies?

"We are not talking about protecting the nation's nuclear launch codes," Barr told the International Conference on Cyber Security at Fordham University. "Nor are we necessarily talking about the customized encryption used by large business enterprises to protect their operations. We are talking about consumer products and services such as messaging, smart phones, email, and voice and data applications. There have been enough dogmatic pronouncements that lawful access simply cannot be done. It can be, and it must be."

Related: DOJ: Strong Encryption That We Don't Have Access to is "Unreasonable"
FBI Director Calls Encryption a "Major Public Safety Issue"
FBI Director: Without Compromise on Encryption, Legislation May be the 'Remedy'
Five Eyes Governments Get Even Tougher on Encryption
Australia Set to Pass Controversial Encryption Law
FBI: End-to-End Encryption Problem "Infects" Law Enforcement and Intelligence Community


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 26 2019, @01:20AM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 26 2019, @01:20AM (#871308)

    Given, there exists encryption schemes that the AG can't break.

    Assume the AG can invent a scheme that is secure but can also be opened only with a proper court order.
    (Big leap of faith in many directions, but give him this crazy assumption for a few milliseconds.)
    This will give the AG access to lawful folk's stuff if the judge agrees.

    Question, what will make the non-lawful folks use this new encryption instead of the existing stuff that the AG can't see?

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 26 2019, @03:22AM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 26 2019, @03:22AM (#871324)

    Easy, he can jail them for using unlawful encryption. The content of the encrypted message is irrelevant.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 26 2019, @12:22PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 26 2019, @12:22PM (#871427)

      After the bad thing happens, sure. but as an investigative tool, given steganography, how will he know they are using illegal encryption.

      His arguments for needing it fall apart for after the fact use.