Senator looks to stop built-in government backdoors in consumer electronics

[Justin Kahn]

As previously reported, there are a number of US national security agencies, including the FBI, that want to have the right to build secretive backdoors directly into consumer electronics hardware. This essentially means manufacturers would be forced to include security holes accessible by these agencies from the get-go.

Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), on the other hand, is doing his best to stop this from happening. The Senator claims this type of backdoor operation built into consumer goods would in fact weaken the strength of data security for the average American. "Strong encryption and sound computer security is the best way to keep Americans' data safe from hackers and foreign threats," said Wyden.

In an attempt to regain trust among American electronics consumers after months of NSA security/data issues making headlines, Wyden is proposing the Secure Data Act. The bill attempts to stop the legal creation of these types of backdoors along with other Government enforced technology mandates. 

Wyden said backdoors of this nature create inherent security flaws in hardware and computer systems that can be exploited by both those who are intended to do so and those who were not. It can cause issues with regards to companies having “less incentive to invest in the development and deployment of strong new data security technologies if they are required to compromise them from the outset,” Senator Wyden said. 

As usual, it will take some time before we know how far the bill might actually get. You can get more details directly from Wyden or dive right into the bill itself.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/59080-senator-looks-stop-built-government-backdoors-consumer-electronics.html

 

[cliffordcooley]

I'm contemplating between this being a smart man or if this is a public relations gimmick.

 

[yRaz]

I'm contemplating between this being a smart man or if this is a public relations gimmick.

If it is a gimmick then it will remain a gimmick until people start taking these people seriously. With all of the GOP's smaller government talk I'd expect them to jump on board with this. But if we look at the last 6 years they will probably be against this kind of thing simply because he is a democrat. Both sides have some good ideas but it seems like the disagree with each other on sheer principle. "you said yes so I'm going to say no!" "You think this is a good idea so I think it's a bad idea!"

Doesn't matter what they're talking about, the moment one side says something the other disagrees with it. This is something that everyone should agree on, there is no argument. We've been losing our rights for the past 20 years, it's about time we do something about it, Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative.

 

[Rippleman]

Why have a back door when you can get in through the front?

 

[davislane1]

Why have a back door when you can get in through the front?

Everyone shows up at the front door. If you go in through the back, you're edgy. Gotta be cool when spyin' on peeps, yo.

 

[bexwhitt]

The problem with your super secret back door is some sweaty kid with nothing better to do is going to find the key to the door then all consumer electronics is compromised.

The USA secret squirrel department suck up so much data already that it's like looking for a needle in a million haystacks (or 3 million of those big rolls of hay we have these days).

 

[MilwaukeeMike]

I'm contemplating between this being a smart man or if this is a public relations gimmick.

If it is a gimmick then it will remain a gimmick until people start taking these people seriously. With all of the GOP's smaller government talk I'd expect them to jump on board with this. But if we look at the last 6 years they will probably be against this kind of thing simply because he is a democrat. Both sides have some good ideas but it seems like the disagree with each other on sheer principle. "you said yes so I'm going to say no!" "You think this is a good idea so I think it's a bad idea!"

Doesn't matter what they're talking about, the moment one side says something the other disagrees with it. This is something that everyone should agree on, there is no argument. We've been losing our rights for the past 20 years, it's about time we do something about it, Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative.

There's more to forming an opinion than just looking at whether there's a D or R next to the guy's name. The answer to Cliff's question though is yes, this is most definitely a gimmick. Have you ever heard of this guy, Ron Wyden? No, and neither has anyone else, which is why he introduced this bill. A favorite trick of politicians is to introduce a bill that on the surface everyone would obviously be in favor of (like this one). Then they put in a part of the bill that their opponents would veto (in this case, maybe it's a new tax or something) and then come election time, the guy who introduced the bill can put out a commercial saying his opponent is against protecting consumers from backdoors in their technology.

yRaz, yes the GOP is in favor of smaller govt, but that's because they think the govt is sticking it's nose in places it doesn't belong, like healthcare, business/banking regulation, excessive taxes etc. They think one of the things govt is actually supposed to do is protect their citizens and our borders. This means they usually, and I stress usually, are more in favor of things that protect us from terrorism even if it makes them unpopular, while dems are more happy to do what looks better on camera than what actually works. Looking good before an election instead of fighting terrorism was the whole reason for the Benghazi scandal, and 4 Americans died for it.

The truth of it is, the whole surveillance thing turns out to be rather bi-partisan. And if you look at who is in favor and who isn't, it turns out that the politicians in favor of backdoors and surveillance are the ones on the intelligence committees, while the ones without top level clearance are more apt to please the public. Makes me wonder if we'd all be in favor of surveillance if we all knew what the top brass knew.

 

[cliffordcooley]

Makes me wonder if we'd all be in favor of surveillance if we all knew what the top brass knew.

I would if the surveillance was a two way street. It's not, so I'm not interested. I "will not" willingly give up my privacy while they maintain their own, I repeat "will not"! Full transparency of everyone involved or nothing at all.

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

So while the American politicians duke it out the rest of the world waits with bated breath because it obviously affects the entire globe.

 

[cliffordcooley]

So while the American politicians duke it out the rest of the world waits with bated breath because it obviously affects the entire globe.

So true, and where is the voice of the rest of the world. Perhaps they are cowering behind their curtains, wanting to benefit from both sides of the coin.

 

[Darth Shiv]

Finally someone in a high position had thought this out.

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

So true, and where is the voice of the rest of the world. Perhaps they are cowering behind their curtains, wanting to benefit from both sides of the coin.

I couldn't agree with you more.

 

[captaincranky]

I'm contemplating between this being a smart man or if this is a public relations gimmick.

Well, it's most likely a smart man with respect to public relations gimmicks

 

[Hexic]

Why have a back door when you can get in through the front?

...zing?

Apologies, couldn't resist.

 

[Rippleman]

...zing?

Apologies, couldn't resist.

I thought about that too after I posted lol,