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U.S. Law Enforcement Seeks to Halt Apple-Google Encryption of Mobile Data

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Re: U.S. Law Enforcement Seeks to Halt Apple-Google Encryption of Mobile Data

#41

Post by lnanek2 »

ary wrote: post #13

Outside of having a plethora of security experts audit and certify these services I'd say this is about as close as you can get to a ringing endorsement. The only way it gets better is if other governments follow up with the same complaints. Ultimately I'm pleased that this kind of thing even makes the news. Ideally government becomes almost totally transparent and private matters become nearly opaque (there will alw…

Government has forced the issue before. I think BlackBerry, for example, had to allow Middle East governments access to their secure messages previously.

Re: U.S. Law Enforcement Seeks to Halt Apple-Google Encryption of Mobile Data

#42

Post by matthewmacleod »

So this does actually pose an interesting conundrum, I think.

Setting aside the specifics of this matter, I think that most people would accept that in some circumstances, covert surveillance of suspected criminals is an acceptable law enforcement tool. Of course, it must be subject to suitable (not rubber-stamped) judicial approval, rigorous guidelines, limitations etc.

From that perspective, secure and encrypted communication channels that are now becoming more generally available and usable by the public reduce the ability of law enforcement to gather evidence using traditional surveillance tools. It's no wonder that they would react negatively to them, even assuming there were no malicious intentions.

I wonder what the balance will be? Does law enforcement have to simply accept that surveillance of this sort will no longer be possible? I can't see any logical way of simultaneously retaining useful control and allowing regulated legal access to communications.

Re: U.S. Law Enforcement Seeks to Halt Apple-Google Encryption of Mobile Data

#43

Post by donohoe »

BillFranklin wrote: post #34

The Chicago Chief of Police genuinely said this: >"Apple will become the phone of choice for the pedophile. The average pedophile at this point is probably thinking, I’ve got to get an Apple phone."

Well, if I was trying to break the law then, yeah, I would absolutely go an get an Apple phone if I didn't already have one.

Re: U.S. Law Enforcement Seeks to Halt Apple-Google Encryption of Mobile Data

#44

Post by brational »

gnarbarian wrote: post #8

They are going straight into "think of the children mode" " Smartphone communication is “going to be the preferred method of the pedophile and the criminal. We are going to lose a lot of investigative opportunities." Apparently "what about the terrorists?" isn't as effective anymore. Let's hope the public will see through their manipulative talking points.

I don't understand this argument. Wouldn't law enforcement still be allowed to access phone records unecrypted if they have an actual suspect and court order?

Re: U.S. Law Enforcement Seeks to Halt Apple-Google Encryption of Mobile Data

#45

Post by higherpurpose »

gnarbarian wrote: post #8

They are going straight into "think of the children mode" " Smartphone communication is “going to be the preferred method of the pedophile and the criminal. We are going to lose a lot of investigative opportunities." Apparently "what about the terrorists?" isn't as effective anymore. Let's hope the public will see through their manipulative talking points.

I'm surprised they even admit it's mostly used in the war on drugs. As if we want the US government to help [1] the Sinaloa cartel dominate even more - sorry, I meant to "win the war on drugs" (ha ha!).

[1] - http://www.businessinsider.com.au/the-us-government-and-the-...

Re: U.S. Law Enforcement Seeks to Halt Apple-Google Encryption of Mobile Data

#46

Post by tedks »

If you support this sort of system, you are saying that individuals should be able to place themselves above democracy. Like it or not, we have a legal system that entitles the government to execute lawfully obtained warrants. Tech companies seeking to make this harder are acting against democracy.

It's time for Silicon Valley to decide what side it's on: Democracy, or the alternative.

Re: U.S. Law Enforcement Seeks to Halt Apple-Google Encryption of Mobile Data

#47

Post by [deleted] »

Ntrails wrote: post #33
eli wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I doubt that. I'm sure they anticipated this response, but I think you greatly underestimate how many people subscribe to the "nothing to hide" theory of privacy and/or are genuinely worried this might aid pedophiles or terrorists.

I can't see how you'll see a backlash against the companies on the move, if only because there's no real competition and no value in being "the phone the authorities can easily monitor" The worst case scenario is that they get large amounts of press (not all positive), fight for the rights of their users to have private data, and lose to a government they never expected to defeat. That's still a win.

[deleted]

Re: U.S. Law Enforcement Seeks to Halt Apple-Google Encryption of Mobile Data

#48

Post by chaz72 »

donohoe wrote: post #36

So.. its revealed that the NSA is abusing our privacy, and people react accordingly, and now legitimate law enforcement efforts are being thwarted. Don't blame the tech sector, let them blame the NSA's over-reaching charter

Exactly. The world has had some time to react to last year's revelations, and this is just getting started!

Re: U.S. Law Enforcement Seeks to Halt Apple-Google Encryption of Mobile Data

#50

Post by edwhitesell »

If the government had proven itself trustworthy enough to follow it's own processes for accessing information only after obtaining a warrant, I could agree with the argument. However, things escalate when one side can't trust the other. Encryption is needed.
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