FBI Not Happy with Google, Apple Encryption
- By Matt Holden
- Oct 17, 2014
FBI Director James B. Comey spoke at Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. earlier this week, claiming the new encryption techniques used by Apple and Google might be regulated or eliminated completely by the government, in order to give authority the upper-hand.
This comes after Apple and Google both added deeper encryption that locked everyone out of a user’s personal information, making it more difficult to track. This is not the first open threat from officials in the U.S. government.
Comey says regulations to all communications companies are likely, in order to give agencies direct access to personal data. “Perhaps it’s time to suggest that the post-Snowden pendulum has swung too far in one direction – in a direction of fear and mistrust,” said Comey.
After the Snowden leaks became public, many tech companies were in the spotlight, due to give the NSA and other authorities direct access to their databases. Companies denied these accusations and have since added more encryption and security onto their services.
Apple and Google have not commented on the statement, and it is doubtful either company will back away from their encryption plans, with Google claiming it will only become harder to get into someone’s phone over the next few years.
About the Author
Matt Holden is an Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media, Inc. He received his MFA and BA in journalism from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. He currently writes and edits for Occupational Health & Safety magazine, and Security Today.