With the latest builds of their mobile operating systems, both Apple and Google have introduced new encryption methods that basically takes the key away from the companies themselves and gives it directly to the user. This means that if law enforcement officials were to compel either Apple or Google, they will not be able to unlock a user’s smartphone or access its locally stored data.
Safe to say that authorities are not pleased by this. A compromise has been suggested where the keys are handed only to the authorities but as Apple’s General Counsel Bruce Sewell said, “We can’t create a key that only the good guys can use.” Well the good news is that Senator Ron Wyden appears to be on the side of privacy advocates.
The Senator has recently introduced a bill that would prevent the government from forcing companies to design backdoors or security vulnerabilities in their products that would aid surveillance. According to Wyden, “Strong encryption and sound computer security is the best way to keep Americans’ data safe from hackers and foreign threats.”
Wyden’s proposal also goes against FBI Director James B. Comey’s own proposal in which he suggests that the US Congress should pass a law that allows police access to all communications tools. This also follows in the wake of the Snowden reports in which it was revealed that the NSA has backdoor access to devices made by the likes of Cisco, Juniper Networks, and more.
Law enforcement officials have recently invoked the “All Writs Act” to compel Apple to help them with some of their cases in which they need access to the suspect’s smartphone. That being said, what do you guys think of Wyden’s bill? Is this something you could see yourself getting behind on?