Coalition of top US tech firms rejects calls for weakened encryption in wake of Paris attacks

[midian182]

In the aftermath of last week’s Paris attacks a number of Governments and intelligence agencies around the world have again called for weakened encryption or backdoor access to allow them to monitor civilian communications. In response, a leading coalition of US-based technology groups has issued a statement supporting the continued use of encryption.

The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), which contains over 60 tech giants such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft, said it opposes “any policy actions or measures that would undermine encryption as an available and effective tool.”

"After a horrific tragedy like the Paris attacks, we naturally search for solutions: weakening encryption is not a solution," said Dean Garfield, president of the Washington-based organization.

Government authorities have said that the increasing popularity of encrypted email and messaging platforms, such as iMessage or WhatsApp, means they struggle to monitor criminal suspects and uncover terrorist plots, according to Reuters. But despite early reports that those responsible for the Paris attacks relied on encryption, no hard evidence has emerged that they used any kind of secure messaging service.

The ITI claims that weakening encryption would lead to more dangers and expose private information to hackers.

"Encryption is a security tool we rely on every day to stop criminals from draining our bank accounts, to shield our cars and airplanes from being taken over by malicious hacks, and to otherwise preserve our security and safety,” Garfield said.

“We deeply appreciate law enforcement's and the national security community's work to protect us, but weakening encryption or creating backdoors to encrypted devices and data for use by the good guys would actually create vulnerabilities to be exploited by the bad guys, which would almost certainly cause serious physical and financial harm across our society and our economy. Weakening security with the aim of advancing security simply does not make sense."

In the UK, prime minister David Cameron has often spoken of his desire for telecommunication companies to weaken their encryption, and once said he would push for a ban on encrypted messaging services such as WhatsApp.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/62862-coalition-top-us-tech-firms-rejects-calls-weakened.html

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

I'm convinced Cameron can be more of a bonehead than our president Zuma and that takes exceptional talent, years of training and hard work to do that.

 

[G0DofPaiN]

Governments will try every excuse during grief or happy times to get to spy more on the population, like:"oh a tornado devastated that country, we could have prevented that if we had backdoor access there"

"In the UK, prime minister David Cameron has often spoken of his desire for telecommunication companies to weaken their encryption, and once said he would push for a ban on encrypted messaging services such as WhatsApp."

Banning Whatsapp is like banning the freedom of speech, a fundamental right to human race. Who says something that they shouldn't gets arrested. Maybe we will have slaves again, who knows what future can bring us?

 

[davislane1]

Islamic terrorists kill people in Paris, Mali.

Govt asks for greater ability to spy on everyone.

They aren't even trying to hide their agenda anymore.

 

[Hexic]

Governments will try every excuse during grief or happy times to get to spy more on the population, like:"oh a tornado devastated that country, we could have prevented that if we had backdoor access there"

"In the UK, prime minister David Cameron has often spoken of his desire for telecommunication companies to weaken their encryption, and once said he would push for a ban on encrypted messaging services such as WhatsApp."

Banning Whatsapp is like banning the freedom of speech, a fundamental right to human race. Who says something that they shouldn't gets arrested. Maybe we will have slaves again, who knows what future can bring us?

-.-

That rant sounded eerily similar to the rants I'd hear from college kids on one of our many über liberal campuses.

And then they grew up, and started paying taxes...

 

[umbala]

"Weakening security with the aim of advancing security simply does not make sense."

Well that pretty much sums up how I feel about this. It's kind of like killing the patient and saying you cured their disease.

 

[Mihaela69]

Governments will try every excuse during grief or happy times to get to spy more on the population, like:"oh a tornado devastated that country, we could have prevented that if we had backdoor access there"

"In the UK, prime minister David Cameron has often spoken of his desire for telecommunication companies to weaken their encryption, and once said he would push for a ban on encrypted messaging services such as WhatsApp."

Banning Whatsapp is like banning the freedom of speech, a fundamental right to human race. Who says something that they shouldn't gets arrested. Maybe we will have slaves again, who knows what future can bring us?

-.-

That rant sounded eerily similar to the rants I'd hear from college kids on one of our many über liberal campuses.

And then they grew up, and started paying taxes...

You sound like a Troll! are you?

 

[Mihaela69]

So we need more back doors and should outlaw encryption to make law enforcement seem smarter then criminals. They do not have the knowlage to break in or beat encryption so it all should be outlawed.

 

[cliffordcooley]

They do not have the knowledge to break in or beat encryption so it all should be outlawed.

Now I know why there hasn't been an attempt at outlawing the circus.

 

[Hexic]

You sound like a Troll! are you?

Not here, unfortunately. :/

The idea of the government waiting for loopholes to 'sneak in' is elementary. That inherent sense of mistrust and misunderstanding of the ecosystem we live in, is what is contributing to the problems we have with said system.