The New York Times is reporting:
The Obama administration has backed down in its bitter dispute with Silicon Valley over the encryption of data on iPhones and other digital devices, concluding that it is not possible to give American law enforcement and intelligence agencies access to that information without also creating an opening that China, Russia, cybercriminals and terrorists could exploit.
Not surprisingly:
With its decision, which angered the F.B.I. and other law enforcement agencies, the administration essentially agreed with Apple, Google, Microsoft and a group of the nation's top cryptographers and computer scientists that millions of Americans would be vulnerable to hacking if technology firms and smartphone manufacturers were required to provide the government with "back doors," or access to their source code and encryption keys.
What's important about this decision is this:
While the administration said it would continue to try to persuade companies like Apple and Google to assist in criminal and national security investigations, it determined that the government should not force them to breach the security of their products. In essence, investigators will have to hope they find other ways to get what they need, from data stored in the cloud in unencrypted form or transmitted over phone lines, which are covered by a law that affects telecommunications providers but not the technology giants.
One wonders at the intelligence of law enforcement officials regarding their anger because of this decision. Do they not realize that backdoors let the good guys (law enforcement pursuing an active and legitimate case), the bad guys (the criminals), and the other bad guys (corrupt law enforcement and the 3- and 4-letter intelligence agencies) into people's secret and confidential information? Do they not realize that we the people no longer trust them and we do not want them knowing any more about us than we are willing to give them?
(Score: 2, Insightful) by PinkyGigglebrain on Monday October 12 2015, @08:04AM
" Do they not realize that we the people no longer trust them and we do not want them knowing any more about us than we are willing to give them?"
Do they realize: no
would they care : no
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 12 2015, @08:18AM
Having applied pressure to get at this data, they have to hold a position of "angry but accepting" with this outcome.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 12 2015, @08:05AM
The same arguments were briefly raised after 9/11 when the Patriot Act was being proposed, but nobody seemed to give a fudge then. The pendulum swings. If there is another major terrorist attack, I can almost bet the pendulum will swing the other way, as the fear of terrorists will exceed the fear of gov't being jackasses with info.
Voters have short-term memories.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 12 2015, @01:50PM
"Voters have no memories."
FTFY
(Score: 3, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 12 2015, @08:09AM
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/10/09/us_encryption_backdoor_law_latest/ [theregister.co.uk]
(Score: 0, Troll) by aristarchus on Monday October 12 2015, @08:10AM
During the election, the phrase was: "Obama won't veto your beer." True to this day. Also has not taken The Coward James Yeager's, the owner of Tactical Response, guns, yet. (Only a matter of time, that guy is seriously cowardly, as evidenced by his actions in Iraq as a blood-sucking mercenary coward, before he started a business teaching others to the be the same cowardly ammosexual gun lovers (in a much too literal sense). In fact, I recommend everyone look for the "I just f***ing shot myself" video, by a graduate of "Tactical Response". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTGmTrQXrwg [youtube.com] So, Obama? Not really the problem.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 12 2015, @04:11PM
They have just made secret deals with these companies and want the subject to 'just go away'.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 12 2015, @06:18PM
yes, they realize. they are just playing stupid. They are treasonous $%# trying to ensure global enslavement to the master class. this is not about national anything.