Leading experts issue warning against government proposals to bypass encryption

Justin Kahn

Posts: 752   +6

There is some serious concern being raised over recent government proposals to regulate communication encryption. A group of top computer scientists and cryptographers are coming together to warn about the dangers of such an initiative. While government authorities argue that it only allows terrorist groups and other malicious attackers sanctuary to conduct operations, the consortium of independent experts seem to think just the opposite.

Not unlike what we have seen the past, British Prime Minister David Cameron made a proposal calling for the ban of hard encryption based on terrorist related issues. However, a new report from the group of experts suggests it could completely destroy the internet as we know it.

It states that not only have government authorities ill-explained how they intend to do this, but that such a change is likely to create “unanticipated” and “hard-to detect” security flaws elsewhere.

While we are yet to hear what US authorities have to say on the matter in detail, it appears the anti-encryption movement will have some allies in FBI director James Comey and US deputy attorney Sally Quillan Yates. Back in 1997, during the Clinton era, federal authorities proposed to regulate hard-encryption in the US, but in the end it was turned away based on consultation from many of the same experts speaking up today.

Only time will tell as to whether or not Cameron’s proposal will hold any weight, but you can rest assured the independent consortium won’t go down without a fight.

Image via Shutterstock

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I would be a lot more supportive of the governments programs if they would put as much effort into catching and eliminating the hackers that keep stealing government and private citizens data. Once upon a time when we had over 10,000 field agents that blended into the enemy countries, it could have been eliminated but thanks to George Bush (Sr) he let them all go and put all his money into satellite surveillance systems rather than create a balanced force of both. Now we continue to go in the wrong direction hoping for a hail mary win .... soooooo typical ......
 
Oh yeah, let's eliminate internet encryption. Great idea, *****s! It's hilarious just watching politicians trying to regulate technology, something they have NO CLUE about whatsoever. Reminds me of that Grade A ***** that said the internet was just a series of tubes. Hilarious.
 
David Cameron is trying his best to destroy the UK. Do you know why he the terrorists haven't killed him yet?

He is their inside man, regardless of if he knows it or not. If he is successful with this BS that only proves his IQ is that of a 4 year old... then he will take do more damage than any terrorist group could ever.

Wonders where all the money has gone ? Oh Dave you know all those foreigners ? You let them look after the benefits... and they are handing out money willy nilly to themselves...

This guy is a tard. DIE Cameron plz
 
Disabling / Blocking / Bypassing or any other phrase that instigates removing encryption or building a back door into it something that is encrypted is absurd! The latest is that it could destroy the internet (for the UK at least). This is not so far from the truth! Encryption exists almost everywhere online. For example the internet has made it easier for us to order an item from a store in the high street without even moving out of the comfort of our own arm chair. Would you dare enter your back details online, when you know there is no encryption, and it's possible that every hacker (as well as the government) is sitting there waiting for you to enter the last few digits of your card account, so that they can then intercept those details....?

You change / remove one thing for encryption and it's like a stack of cards - one false move and everything comes tumbling down!

Someone please educate this poor sole before he turns the UK into a totalitarian state and we are all doomed before the next uprising.
 
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