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from the elections-are-coming-up-soon-vs-PGP dept.
Bill Aimed at Ending 'Warrant-Proof' Encryption Introduced in House:
Referred to as the Lawful Access to Encrypted Data Act, the bill aims to put a stop to criminals using “warrant-proof encryption and other technological advances” to hide their activity from authorities, Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), who introduced the bill, said.
“It is time tech companies stand with criminal investigators and the public to make clear they are committed to rooting out perpetrators who use their services to commit horrific crimes. As the digital world advances, so must our legislative solutions to investigate crimes that hit hardest the most vulnerable in our society,” Rep. Wagner commented.
Law enforcement agencies have long argued that strong encryption hinders their ability to conduct successful investigations in certain cases, often asking for backdoors that would provide them fast access to data of interest, but tech companies have opposed these requests, arguing that backdoors would introduce serious security and privacy risks.
The legislation would require tech companies to provide authorities with access to encrypted user data, while also stating that the Attorney General would report on which companies can comply. Furthermore, the government would offer compensation to companies that comply with the legislation.
Previously:
(2020-07-07) US Senate Panel OK's EARN IT Act
(2020-06-27) Senators Introduce "Balanced" Bill That Aims to End Warrant-Proof Encryption
(2020-06-11) Plundering of Crypto Keys From Ultrasecure SGX Sends Intel Scrambling Again
(2020-06-06) Zoom Says Free Users Won't Get End-to-End Encryption so FBI and Police Can Access Calls
(2020-05-19) AG Barr Seeks 'Legislative Solution' to Make Companies Unlock Phones
(2020-05-19) FBI Successfully Broke Into a Gunman's iPhone, but Still Very Angry at Apple
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Mojibake Tengu on Saturday August 01 2020, @11:42AM (5 children)
Warrant-sure encryption is not an encryption.
Imagine an analogy:
Your house has another door, called government door. Only authorities have a key to that door, just for case a crime could happen in your house, or a fire, or whatever casual mishap for which they may need to legally enter your house.
Does this idea make you feel safe and free?
Respect Authorities. Know your social status. Woke responsibly.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 01 2020, @01:16PM (2 children)
As Opportunist said above, the core problem is even more fundamental. Even if you completely trust your government to only use that door under appropriate circumstances, it is guaranteed that the criminals and foreign governments get copies.
I am wondering whether this entire debate is a case of horrific stupidity or if it's just a distracting form of political theater - if we're screaming at the government over this, then we're not screaming because 29 million Americans didn't have enough to eat for some part of last month.
(Score: 2) by loonycyborg on Saturday August 01 2020, @03:49PM (1 child)
Also government workers might decide to take advantage of it and become criminals themselves.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 01 2020, @06:01PM
"become"?
(Score: 3, Interesting) by fustakrakich on Saturday August 01 2020, @07:19PM (1 child)
Doesn't anybody feel silly for even discussing such a thing? Let's just work around it. The law in this regard is irrelevant. If the government wants you, they will take you. Somewhere is a law that says they can.
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 01 2020, @07:32PM
Even if there isn't a law, there's bound to be a judge who will say they can.