Feds Challenged by Encrypted Devices of San Bernardino Attackers

Comey called encryption a “big problem” that is thwarting investigators and pointed to the Garland, Texas shooting as an example. It is used to keep data users’ information safe or private.

Comey’s speech this morning laid out a slightly different model for breaking encryption than the one that he has previously hinted at.

Richard Burr, the Republican chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, told Reuters on Wednesday he planned to introduce legislation next year that would require USA tech companies to be capable of complying with warrants by accessing encrypted data and handing it over to law enforcement. “India still doesn’t have a comprehensive encryption policy on encryption but conflicting sector-specific regulations”, said Mishi Choudhary, legal director at the Software Freedom Law Center.

Her remarks came at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing at which FBI Director James B. Comey asserted that it would be “useful” for Congress to “drive this conversation”. We can, and we must provide both in equal measure. One bright light, however: Comey also acknowledged that “encryption is very important to safety on the internet”, just not when it’s making his life harder. Grassley told Comey he is looking forward to hearing what he has to say on how the Federal Bureau of Investigation is going to address these issues as well as the discussions they are having with technology companies about how to overcome the growing practice of “Going Dark” with encrypted communications by terrorists. “Good people have formed a decision to design products and sell products where court orders are ineffective”.

The Indian government had to withdraw a draft policy on encryption within five days in September because the language of the draft suggested even individuals would have to store all electronic communication in decrypted format for three months. A court order is required by law enforcement officials to gain access to the data.

“That morning before one of those terrorists left to try and commit mass murder he exchanged 109 messages with an overseas terrorist”. In the aftermath of terrorism in Paris and San Bernardino, however, lawmakers have again pushed for privileged government access into encrypted devices. If FBI Director Comey and Senator Feinstein succeed in dismantling encryption in the United States, it will only hurt innocent organisations and people who rely on the technology to protect sensitive information. Lots of good people have designed their systems and their devices so the judges orders can not be complied with, for reasons that I understand, I am not questioning their motivation. While he hasn’t said anything in this particular instance, Apple CEO Tim cook has repeatedly defended encryption by default.