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Why the FBI Director really wants to be able to access your iPhone

MaggieD

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...Washington (CNN) -- FBI Director James Comey says new encryption standards by Apple and Google will create "a black hole for law enforcement" that will help sophisticated criminals avoid detection.

Comey is taking up the FBI's years-long push to expand federal surveillance law to require tech companies to include a way for law enforcement to get court ordered access to data on new devices.
"The law hasn't kept pace with technology," Comey said in remarks at the Brookings Institution. "This disconnect has created a significant public safety problem. We call it 'going dark,' and what it means is this: those charged with protecting our people aren't always able to access the evidence we need to prosecute crime and prevent terrorism."...
To me, the real news is that Apple and Google plan to release phones that are encryption-secure. Where even they themselves cannot access data without the user's password.

No more wire taps...no more being able to track calls...

Should this be allowed?

The only "example" I could think of would be if gun manufacturers could manufacture guns with no ballistics.
 
To me, the real news is that Apple and Google plan to release phones that are encryption-secure. Where even they themselves cannot access data without the user's password.

No more wire taps...no more being able to track calls...

Should this be allowed?

The only "example" I could think of would be if gun manufacturers could manufacture guns with no ballistics.

Interesting. Neither part is surprising (that the FBI wants access and that Apple can & will produce something that can't be accessed).

The FBI Director would be bored to tears if he was able to access my iPhone, unless coordinating carpools, texting my husband a list of things to pick up at the grocery store, and setting up dinner dates with other couples is interesting to him.;)
 
To me, the real news is that Apple and Google plan to release phones that are encryption-secure. Where even they themselves cannot access data without the user's password.

No more wire taps...no more being able to track calls...

Should this be allowed?

The only "example" I could think of would be if gun manufacturers could manufacture guns with no ballistics.

Gun manufactures can and do already manufacture weapons that have no or little distinguishing ballistic marking characteristics. Shotguns amongst others.
 
To me, the real news is that Apple and Google plan to release phones that are encryption-secure. Where even they themselves cannot access data without the user's password.

No more wire taps...no more being able to track calls...

Should this be allowed?

The only "example" I could think of would be if gun manufacturers could manufacture guns with no ballistics.

You don't need Apple or Google to make your phone a black hole by the way. Its just uncommon. Secured phones are made for the government and corporations and private individuals already, Blackberry being the amongst them. They have been around for as long as there has been cellular communication.
 
I'm actually on the fence with this issue ---- while I agree there may be a very small number of instances where the government should be able to get a court to monitor your devices I don't trust our government to use that power truthfully or wisely. Since we will be having to deal with terrorism for the near future I'd like to know that the NSA or FBI could if they needed to, get a FISA court judge to sign off on an electronic tap but we've seen with Snowden's leaks through Wikileaks that our government cannot be trusted with that power.

So I guess I have to say "NO" to the government. They'll need to get creative and use other legal means to accomplish their goals.
 
To me, the real news is that Apple and Google plan to release phones that are encryption-secure. Where even they themselves cannot access data without the user's password.

No more wire taps...no more being able to track calls...

Should this be allowed?

The only "example" I could think of would be if gun manufacturers could manufacture guns with no ballistics.

Criminals and terrorists could communicate with impunity.
 
Criminals and terrorists could communicate with impunity.

Exactly, they should only be able to get phones that cannot be encrypted. I'd feel safer that way.
 
Exactly, they should only be able to get phones that cannot be encrypted. I'd feel safer that way.
I too feel that Benjamin Franklin was an idiot. We definitely should sacrifice every fiber of our freedom until the government deems us sufficiently safe".
 
To me, the real news is that Apple and Google plan to release phones that are encryption-secure. Where even they themselves cannot access data without the user's password.

No more wire taps...no more being able to track calls...

Should this be allowed?

The only "example" I could think of would be if gun manufacturers could manufacture guns with no ballistics.

I am not quite sure how the encryption will work, but I do not really think that we have thought through our laws on information use and access very well yet. It seems clear to me that to prevent data mining is crazy. But we do have to find a way to control all those persons and organizations that have access. People are not always nice and some of them will misuse the information and hurt people.
 
The FBI needs access to phones with proper procedures followed. To lock them out gives terrorist and criminals a free ride.
 
To me, the real news is that Apple and Google plan to release phones that are encryption-secure. Where even they themselves cannot access data without the user's password.

No more wire taps...no more being able to track calls...

Should this be allowed?

The only "example" I could think of would be if gun manufacturers could manufacture guns with no ballistics.

One thing about technology, there's always a way around it. They'll be able to trap a line if they want, it just won't be as easy, especially on mass levels.
 
I too feel that Benjamin Franklin was an idiot. We definitely should sacrifice every fiber of our freedom until the government deems us sufficiently safe".

How unfortunate. I just want to keep encrypted phones away from bad people. I want everyone else to be able to have one.
 
To me, the real news is that Apple and Google plan to release phones that are encryption-secure. Where even they themselves cannot access data without the user's password.

No more wire taps...no more being able to track calls...

Should this be allowed?

The only "example" I could think of would be if gun manufacturers could manufacture guns with no ballistics.

Private conversations away from listening devices and hand delivered written docs are also hard to eavesdrop.

People have no obligation to facilitate government surveillance. A law requiring such facilitation would violate the fifth amendment.
 
The FBI needs access to phones with proper procedures followed. To lock them out gives terrorist and criminals a free ride.

Conservatives are ridiculous sometimes. Not listening to peoples conversations doesn't give anyone a free ride.
 
The FBI needs access to phones with proper procedures followed. To lock them out gives terrorist and criminals a free ride.

Should it be illegal to have a private conversation where no one can hear it?
 
Should it be illegal to have a private conversation where no one can hear it?

Yeah man, you might be planning something. We have to be super paranoid and treat every person in the world as a criminal at all times. It's the conservative way to handle things.
 
To me, the real news is that Apple and Google plan to release phones that are encryption-secure. Where even they themselves cannot access data without the user's password.

No more wire taps...no more being able to track calls...

Should this be allowed?

The only "example" I could think of would be if gun manufacturers could manufacture guns with no ballistics.

I really do not think this has anything to do with consumers, but with apple and google getting sick and tired of getting harassed by the government.
 
One thing about technology, there's always a way around it. They'll be able to trap a line if they want, it just won't be as easy, especially on mass levels.

That's actually what I think. In fact, they probably already have it if those phones are available now as one poster said. However, putting the WORD out that plotters and schemers are safer than before may be just what's intended.
 
That's actually what I think. In fact, they probably already have it if those phones are available now as one poster said. However, putting the WORD out that plotters and schemers are safer than before may be just what's intended.

I've seen spook movies, where the agents purchase with cash, these blank disposable cell phones that are only good for a few calls. That's probably the reality that the tech the NSA, CIA and other intel agencies use can get whatever info they want from your connections. Your cell and internet services have to use public servers that record everything and can be unencrypted.
 
Given what the NSA is doing. The government is not a trustworthy steward in this area. So I hope apple keeps doing what they do.
 
The FBI needs access to phones with proper procedures followed. To lock them out gives terrorist and criminals a free ride.

One thing law enforcement and the NSA have shown over and over and over again is that they cannot or will not follow proper procedures.
 
From what I read for Apple and Google there are market concerns. Foreign markets are not happy about the idea that the FBI or the NSA could listen in on the coversations of their citizens - or more likely their government officials. Some have gone so far as to say that if a company wants to do business in their country they need to build dedicated datacenters in their country. Data centers cost tens of millions of dollars to build.

Additionally there's a computer security truism that basically says if you build backdoors or weaknesses into a system to facilitate access that you want to happen be prepared to deal with accesses that you don't want to happen. Basically if the FBI can use back doors to eavesdrop so can everyone else.
 
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