FBI chief: Apple, Google phone encryption perilous

[Newsjock]

Source: Associated Press

The FBI director on Thursday criticized the decision by Apple and Google to encrypt smartphones data so it can be inaccessible to law enforcement, even with a court order.

James Comey told reporters at FBI headquarters that U.S. officials are in talks with the two companies, which he accused of marketing products that would let people put themselves beyond the law's reach.

Comey cited child-kidnapping and terrorism cases as two examples of situations where quick access by authorities to information on cellphones can save lives. Comey did not cite specific past cases that would have been more difficult for the FBI to investigate under the new policies, which only involve physical access to a suspect's or victim's phone when the owner is unable or unwilling to unlock it for authorities.

"What concerns me about this is companies marketing something expressly to allow people to hold themselves beyond the law," Comey said. At another point, he said he feared a moment when "when people with tears in their eyes look at me and say, 'What do you mean you can't?'"

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_26606073/fbi-chief-apple-google-phone-encryption-perilous

[cstanleytech]

1. Jeez this guy is an idiot. nt

[billhicks76]

7. They Can All Go To Hell!!!!

They are reading peoples mail and studying their private conversations by activating microphones on cell phones for ONE reason only>>>> DRUGS!!!! It has nothing to do with terrorism as cops are the terrorists here and they could give a crap about a kidnapping victim...DRUG $$$ is how they line their pockets...they should be tried in the public square for their corruption and violating the Constitution. They are scum.

[cstanleytech]

9. Well to be fair some of it does involve terrorist and trying to stop them is a worthy goal but

that aside trying to get companies like google or apple to install a backdoor into the encryption methods they use is dumb as dogshit as it also leaves it out there for others including those alleged terrorists to exploit and use.

[billhicks76]

16. Maybe 1% and thats Feds

Regular cops or drug enforcement never attack terrorists which are barely existent relatively speaking. They just use these examples to swindle us into supporting them banking off the drug war. It used to be to save the children but that lie only went so far before no one believed it. More damage is caused "protecting' us than illegal drugs ever did.

[christx30]

2. They're being marketed to people that are tired

of the government being able to snoop on every aspect in our lives. This Five Eyes and Octopus "Nothing is beyond our reach" crap has go to stop. Apple and Google, tell them to pound sand!

[Sienna86]

6. Well said! nt

[AndyTiedye]

3. String Encryption has been Available to the Public for Years

and the government has been trying to take it away from us for just as long.

[Ratty]

4. "when people with tears in their eyes"

Oh jeez, give me a friggin break. I can practically hear Reverend Lovejoy's wife shriek "Won't somebody please think of the children!"

[christx30]

10. He should have come out with

a sad violin, with some grieving widows behind him.
"See?! This could be you! You phone encrypting MONSTER!"

[cosmicone]

5. Idiot

That is like saying all lock companies should give a super master key to the police so the cops can get in and out of one's home without a court order.

[billhicks76]

8. Doesn't He Get It Yet?

The majority of the people view him and his thug DEA/FBI as the enemy...not terrorists. More toddlers with guns have killed killed people than terrorists have but cops roam our cities and highways attacking people looking for contraband daily.

[GeorgeGist]

11. Sometimes ...

Kharma's a bitch.

[greiner3]

12. There are programs that not only will allow you to encrypt computers;

But make it impossible to even tell if there are sectors on that computer that are encrypted; in other words, small parts of the HDD are 'invisible'.

This sounds like the forced inclusion of GPS in cell phones some years back.

The excuse for this is that a very, very small percentage of calls would be 911 calls for emergencies and the caller does not know their location.

Very, very, very, very small percentage.

[father founding]

13. James Comey, Poor baby

He can't hide in back of the curtains and spy on us anymore.

[wroberts189]

14. Interesting quote from article..

"What concerns me about this is companies marketing something expressly to allow people to hold themselves beyond the law," Comey said.

Huh? What? "You can now break the law with encryption!" type marketing...? Where ???

Am I missing something? I don't watch tv..

People want to be able to fully secure their data.. so they must be wanting to do something illegal?

[FiveGoodMen]

15. ...said the god damned Nazi

[Orsino]

17. The ticking-time-bomb fallacy. n/t

[sir pball]

18. It's so cute y'all think encryption matters at all in the face of a gov that tortures.

Don't get me wrong, I've loved security since the 90s and the OG PGP; both my MacBook and S5 are so locked down there's no computer in the world that can crack them...but there's a very easy way for a determined attacker to break even a one-time-pad..