Lindsey Graham

Senators to Big Tech Companies: Build A Back Door For Law Enforcement To Access Encrypted Messages, Or Else

The ongoing debate over Apple and Facebook’s decision to not build “backdoors” for law enforcement to obtain encrypted messages continued to rage during a Senate hearing on Tuesday.

  • By Haley Samsel
  • Dec 12, 2019

Senators are warning tech giants Apple and Facebook that they will pass legislation to regulate encryption if the companies do not agree to build a way for law enforcement to access private encrypted messages as part of investigations.

A Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday only escalated the battle between tech companies and the federal government over end-to-end encryption. Law enforcement officials, who have previously argued that encryption makes it easier for terrorists to plan attacks in private, are now arguing that the practices set in place by Apple, Facebook and Whatsapp (owned by Facebook) make it easier for child predators and other criminals to carry out illegal activities.

Privacy advocates have said that encrypted messaging protects users from hackers and authoritarian governments looking to track their online activity. Erik Neuenschwander, Apple’s manager of user privacy, testified to lawmakers on Tuesday that it is virtually impossible to build a “backdoor” for law enforcement without weakening the strength of encryption technology.

“At this time, we've been unable to identify any way to create a backdoor that would work only for the good guys," Neuenschwander said, according to CNET. "In fact, our experience is the opposite. When we have weaknesses in our system, they're exploited by nefarious entities as well."

Legislators were particularly perturbed with a letter from Facebook and Whatsapp sent to Attorney General William Barr and other law enforcement leaders around the world on Monday. In the letter, Facebook’s Jay Sullivan, who oversees privacy integrity at the company, said that it would not weaken encryption on Whatsapp because “doing so would undermine the privacy and security everywhere and leave them vulnerable to hackers, criminals and repressive regimes.”

At an event on Tuesday afternoon, Barr said that dealing with problems caused by encryption is one of the Justice Department’s “highest priorities” and that he was not happy with Facebook’s response. Barr argued that tech companies are selling the belief that “no matter what you do, you’re completely impervious to government surveillance.”

“Do we want to live in a society like that?” Barr said, according to The New York Times. “I don’t think we do.”

After hearing from law enforcement and company representatives at the Senate hearing, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said that tech companies were either going to figure out a way to give authorities access to encrypted messages or Congress will take action to ensure it happens.

"My advice to you is to get on with it," Graham said. "This time next year, if you haven't found a way that you can live with it, we will impose our will on you."

Democrats echoed Graham’s message, including Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. He said that Facebook and Apple were distancing themselves from responsibility for the crimes that are planned and carried out within their messaging apps.

“That will end, because the American people are losing patience," Blumenthal said, according to CNET. "I hope you take that message back. That kind of immunity will be short-lived if big tech isn't able to do better."

There are no current bills on the table concerning encryption, but Congress could follow in the footsteps of Australia’s legislature, which passed the world’s first encryption law in December 2018.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

  • AI Used as Part of Sophisticated Espionage Campaign

    A cybersecurity inflection point has been reached in which AI models has become genuinely useful in cybersecurity operation. But to no surprise, they can used for both good works and ill will. Systemic evaluations show cyber capabilities double in six months, and they have been tracking real-world cyberattacks showing how malicious actors were using AI capabilities. These capabilities were predicted and are expected to evolve, but what stood out for researchers was how quickly they have done so, at scale. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.