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Stop the Earn IT Bill Before It Breaks Encryption

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Re: Stop the Earn IT Bill Before It Breaks Encryption

#11

Post by Freak_NL »

sdoering wrote: post #3

I strongly believe we have lost the war for privacy and security (against state level actors) already. Once the net adopted the platform model, we were screwed. Platforms are as easy to regulate, as for example the telephone companies were back in the days. They were easily forced to comply with wiretapping demands of the government. The moment a central platform controlled (most of) our communication and was able to…

> They were easily forced to comply with wiretapping demands of the government.

Of some governments. If you are not one of the five (or whatever) eyes, you probably won't get your hand in WhatsApp's panties; much to the annoyance of those governments (e.g., the Dutch government which in its current incarnation seems to have developed a dislike for end-to-end encryption as well).

For American citizens to be spied on by their on government is an affront, but at least it's a government you can vote for.

China sidesteps this issue completely by using home-grown platforms like WeChat of course.

Re: Stop the Earn IT Bill Before It Breaks Encryption

#12

Post by blackbear_ »

AmericanChopper wrote: post #6
irrational wrote: post #4

Would this have any affect on software developed outside of the USA? The USA is becoming increasingly irrelevant on the world stage. Couldn’t a company in some other country create a browser with encryption that any of us could use? Could Apple move iOS development offshore and continue creating a mobile OS with encryption?

The world is welcome to compete with American tech, and has been trying very hard at it for quite a long time.

And America is welcome to put up a fair fight instead of banning competitors.

Re: Stop the Earn IT Bill Before It Breaks Encryption

#13

Post by selfhoster11 »

AmericanChopper wrote: post #6
irrational wrote: post #4

Would this have any affect on software developed outside of the USA? The USA is becoming increasingly irrelevant on the world stage. Couldn’t a company in some other country create a browser with encryption that any of us could use? Could Apple move iOS development offshore and continue creating a mobile OS with encryption?

The world is welcome to compete with American tech, and has been trying very hard at it for quite a long time.

America hasn't been trying that hard to make a power grab on shared tech like encryption, so it's possible that the rest of the world will have a fighting chance.

Re: Stop the Earn IT Bill Before It Breaks Encryption

#14

Post by qertoip »

usrnm wrote: post #8
irrational wrote: post #4

Would this have any affect on software developed outside of the USA? The USA is becoming increasingly irrelevant on the world stage. Couldn’t a company in some other country create a browser with encryption that any of us could use? Could Apple move iOS development offshore and continue creating a mobile OS with encryption?

Most countries capable of doing that already have similar or even stricter laws. In a few decades there will be no country in the world that doesn't do something like this. It's over, the privacy war is already lost

Have a nice day, DOJ.

Re: Stop the Earn IT Bill Before It Breaks Encryption

#15

Post by selfhoster11 »

mytailorisrich wrote: post #5

I think that the key point that should be addressed by those against this bill and these laws in general is: How to conduct legitimate law enforcement business and police investigations at a time when most communications have moved online? The reason the Attorney General and the DOJ want some sort of access to communications is not to undermine free speech and to take over the world, it is because they know that with…

> How to conduct legitimate law enforcement business and police investigations at a time when most communications have moved online?

The old-fashioned way: physical surveillance for the cases where they strongly suspect a crime. It's even easier these days with the new surveillance capability.

Re: Stop the Earn IT Bill Before It Breaks Encryption

#16

Post by choppaface »

Wrote Feinstein and got a reply (?!) that EARN-IT is “misunderstood” and that she won’t stop supporting it womp womp. Why does this bill have any bi-partisan support?? Would expect there would at least be some large special interests funding an opposition... big companies rely on encryption to keep secrets.

Re: Stop the Earn IT Bill Before It Breaks Encryption

#18

Post by colinb »

AmericanChopper wrote: post #6
irrational wrote: post #4

Would this have any affect on software developed outside of the USA? The USA is becoming increasingly irrelevant on the world stage. Couldn’t a company in some other country create a browser with encryption that any of us could use? Could Apple move iOS development offshore and continue creating a mobile OS with encryption?

The world is welcome to compete with American tech, and has been trying very hard at it for quite a long time.

Hmm. I'm not sure the Chinese government would agree with your first statement. They seem to be getting significant US opposition to their technology advancement.

Yes, I'm aware of some of the issues surrounding IP copying. I won't call it theft because the word is contentious and there are those in this forum who don't think you can steal ideas.

I'm also aware of the US' own history of gathering IP to bootstrap its industrial efforts. I guess that "but you did it first" isn't a good defence in law (not really sure of that, after all IANAL) but it makes the US case weaker in my eyes.

Re: Stop the Earn IT Bill Before It Breaks Encryption

#19

Post by Jon_Lowtek »

mytailorisrich wrote: post #5

I think that the key point that should be addressed by those against this bill and these laws in general is: How to conduct legitimate law enforcement business and police investigations at a time when most communications have moved online? The reason the Attorney General and the DOJ want some sort of access to communications is not to undermine free speech and to take over the world, it is because they know that with…

How was it solved before modern communication tech made it possible to automatically record, transcribe and search peoples private communication?

Re: Stop the Earn IT Bill Before It Breaks Encryption

#20

Post by t-writescode »

anonymfus wrote: post #2

There is a clear need for an opposite law which will make backdoors illegal. Who could fight for it?

It's really easy. You just have to say that the backdoors are a method to stop [very big bad] from happening and that without it, you're supporting [very big bad].

The thing we have to come as a society is willing to accept that sometimes [very big bad] will happen, but a lack of back doors is more important.

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