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takyon [soylentnews.org] writes:

Apple argues stronger encryption will thwart criminals in letter to Australian government [theverge.com]

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 [homeaffairs.gov.au], 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 [aph.gov.au] (#53), or at Scribd [scribd.com] and DocumentCloud [documentcloud.org].

Also at Ars Technica [arstechnica.com], Engadget [engadget.com], 9to5Mac [9to5mac.com], and AppleInsider [appleinsider.com].

Police told to avoid looking at recent iPhones to avoid lockouts [engadget.com]

Police have yet to completely wrap their heads around modern iPhones like the X [engadget.com] and XS [engadget.com], and that's clearer than ever thanks to a leak. Motherboard has obtained [vice.com] 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 [engadget.com]. 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 [9to5mac.com].

Related:

*SPOILER* (click to show) *SPOILER* (click to hide)

California Lawmaker Tries Hand at Banning Encryption [soylentnews.org]
New York Judge Sides with Apple Rather than FBI in Dispute over a Locked iPhone [soylentnews.org]
FBI Chief Calls for National Talk Over Encryption vs. Safety [soylentnews.org]
Hacker Decrypts Apple's Secure Enclave Processor (SEP) Firmware [soylentnews.org]
Federal Court Rules That the FBI Does Not Have to Disclose Name of iPhone Hacking Vendor [soylentnews.org]
Law Enforcement Agencies Increasingly Cracking iPhones Using "GrayKey" [soylentnews.org]
Australian Government Pursues "Golden Key" for Encryption [soylentnews.org]
When's A Backdoor Not A Backdoor? When The Oz Government Says It Isn't [soylentnews.org]
Five Eyes Governments Get Even Tougher on Encryption [soylentnews.org]
FBI Used Cooperative Suspect's Face to Unlock His iPhone [soylentnews.org]

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