Posted on 09/25/2014 3:05:24 PM PDT by re_tail20
FBI Director James B. Comey sharply criticized Apple and Google on Thursday for developing forms of smartphone encryption so secure that law enforcement officials cannot easily gain access to information stored on the devices even when they have valid search warrants.
His comments were the most forceful yet from a top government official but echo a chorus of denunciation from law enforcement officials nationwide. Police have said that the ability to search photos, messages and Web histories on smartphones is essential to solving a range of serious crimes, from murder to child pornography to attempted terrorist attacks.
There will come a day when it will matter a great deal to the lives of people that we will be able to gain access to such devices, Comey told reporters in a briefing. I want to have that conversation [with companies responsible] before that day comes.
Comey added that FBI officials already have made initial contact with the two companies, which announced their new smartphone encryption initiatives last week. He said he could not understand why companies would market something expressly to allow people to place themselves beyond the law.
Comeys remarks followed news last week that Apples latest mobile operating system, iOS 8, is so thoroughly encrypted that the company is unable to unlock iPhones or iPads for police. Google, meanwhile, is moving to an automatic form of encryption for its newest version of Android operating system that the company also will not be able to unlock, though it will take longer for that new feature to reach most consumers.
Both companies, contacted Thursday afternoon, declined to offer immediate reaction to Comeys comments.
For detectives working a tough case, few types of evidence are more revealing than a smartphone...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Now THAT’S an appropriate response!
Tyrant’s hissy-fit!
Sue looks angry.
Gee, guess you’ll have to get a warrant, Chief.
Exactly my feelings.
True.
May people's lives will be ruined if a totalitarian dictatorship runs roughshod over the People!
You’d think a good Irishman would understand guarantees against the intrusions of the King’s Men.
I see their point but they have no one but themselves and the NSA to blame.
The Patriot Act was a clarion call to Americans that government could and now has overstepped its bounds.
We are still citizens with 4th Amendment rights. If they haven’t been so routinely stomped on by the feds and local LEO’s (Mind if we search your vehicle or residence?) I might feel bad. However I don’t.
I fear the government more than a terrorist.
What did the authorities expect? Apple and Google (neither of whom I like) are just answering the call from consumers for better digital security. Marketing prevails.
I said wow! I bet the cops have those. He said yep, and they carry them in their cars. I said no warrants or anything? He said nope!
Bogus claim meant to settle hostilities towards government spying on citizens.
For the past ten years of so the FBI has been enjoying a significantly different relationship with the NSA. In prior years the FBI had very little cooperation with the NSA. The relationship now has the FBI /CIA/DHS all cooperating and that includes cryptology. The NSA can read faster than you can any encrypted message you may ever receive. Now the FBI has that ability.
They need a continuous view of your private information to fight the War on Terror. [Little irony and sarcasm there. Watch out for the local, yocal robbers behind them.]
All show and don’t think any of this is true. Snowden gave all these companies black eyes and they lost face with the public. I don’t believe for a second that Apple or Google are not working with law enforcement to violate our privacy.
Having a valid search warrant doesn't mean a person has to divulge the combination to their vault. The police may take the vault, but they still have to open it.
-PJ
Yeah, and I don’t have a cel phone.
So how do they decrypt the stuff out of my brain????
Like names, incidents, dates, images, etc.
Got to protect all those lives, you know.
BS. I guarantee there’s a back door for the feds as big as a 747
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