WSJ: Apple and Others Encrypt Phones, Fueling Government Standoff

[denem]

U.S. Says New Technology Will Hinder Police Investigations
Nov 18, 2014

The No. 2 official at the Justice Department delivered a blunt message last month to Apple Inc. executives: New encryption technology that renders locked iPhones impervious to law enforcement would lead to tragedy. A child would die, he said, because police wouldn’t be able to scour a suspect’s phone, according to people who attended the meeting.

At issue is new technology that Apple, Google Inc. and others have put in place recently to make their devices more secure. The companies say their aim is to satisfy consumer demands to protect private data.

But law-enforcement officials see it as a move in the wrong direction. The new encryption will make it much harder for the police, even with a court order, to look into a phone for messages, photos, appointments or contact lists, they say. Even Apple itself, if served with a court order, won’t have the key to decipher information encrypted on its iPhones...

As recently as 2012, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt was on a first-name basis with then-NSA head Keith Alexander, published emails indicate. He and other Google executives participated in classified cybersecurity briefings on hacking threats facing the U.S.

http://online.wsj.com/articles/apple-and-others-encrypt-phones-fueling-government-standoff-1416367801



Comment: Last Months News, but composed by the WSJ following the Senate Vote on "The USA Freedom Act".

[cantbeserious]

1. Predictable

eom

[hobbit709]

2. they always pull out that Jack Bauer scenario don't they.

[Xipe Totec]

3. Like peeping toms saying they can't keep your daughter safe unless you leave the curtains open. nt

[Ed Suspicious]

4. Bravo. Great analogy.

[LiberalArkie]

5. Congress really has no idea how much they stirred up with their vote on NSA.

Before people could say that the NSA and justice dept just got out of control. They can't say that any more. The senate just ratified all that Snoden and others leaked and silicon valley is pissed. The next ones to get pissed off are major US corporations since they have long suspected that someone somewhere was leaking their merger plans, research and other closely held info. Most executives (in telecom) have been doing the merger and buyout talks via corp jet instead of phone calls or emails. I have worked with some that would take the jet across the US for a 5 minute chat with another ceo that could have been down on the phone or email. And this was over 10 years ago and they were solid Bush supporters.

I don't think the government will have must support from silicon valley and probably not much from a lot of companies.

[DeSwiss]

6. Big Brother is not used to such insolence.

They've always been able to get what they wanted through bribery and/or intimidation. But it was they themselves who help to create these global corporate Frankenstein monsters like Apple and Google -- and now their monsters they're sick and tired being jolted into subservience at their whim.

- And even if the MIC can't, they hear the distant sound of mobs gathering and torches being lit.

K&R

[TRoN33]

7. Mark my words, if next President is a...

Republican, he will undoubtedly taking steps to make good of threats against companies who won't let govt to get anything what they wanted from tech whiz dudes and gals.

[denem]

8. Rand Paul will save us.