US officials ponder ban of end-to-end encryption

[Tsepz]

Well now this makes for a rather interesting read and would probably affect a lot of the services we use on our smartphones pretty heavily.

Senior Trump administration officials want to ban the end-to-end encryption, according to a report by Politico on a National Security Council meeting that took place earlier this week. The encryption challenge, called “going dark”, was discussed with officials from key agencies, including FBI, Department of Justice, Commerce and State Departments. There was no final decision, but the report suggests the issue will not stay in the background for much longer.

Companies like Apple, Google and Facebook rely on end-to-end encryption of data where only users sending and receiving it can read it. However, that way terrorism, drug trafficking and child pornography cannot be clamped, officials claim.

The DOJ and FBI were quoted that catching criminals is a top priority, “even if watered-down encryption creates hacking risks”. They are backed by the IRS and Secret Service, but the Commerce and State Departments pointed out there are going to be economic and diplomatic consequences of mandating encryption “backdoors”.

https://m.gsmarena.com/us_officials_discussing_ban_of_endtoend_encryption-news-37845.php

Interesting times ahead it seems, with all the worry about people’s data and privacy being all the rage these days...

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Exactly how can you ban this? Alternate services will pop up regardless. It's also extremely easy for any criminal organization to create their own end-to-end encryption messenger.

This is nothing more than govt wanting to access to the big services.

 

[drinkingtea]

If so, I would feel safer giving Zuckerberg (WhatsApp) my data than the government under the Trump administration.

There would be too much push back on this if Trump tried it. At least I hope there would be. I think the percentage of iPhone users who use iMessage who even know or care that their messages have end-to-end encryption is very small.

 

[AustinIllini]

The legality of this is questionable.

If @Tsepz and I develop our own language and speak it to each other, the government can't demand we provide translation.

 

[TheSkywalker77]

We're slowly losing our human right to privacy... sad.

 

[mclld]

So I am clueless when it come to encryption. When someone says end to end in messaging, does that mean it can not be spied on/hacked etc and read by anyone in any way? Not even the cell network/isp/law enforcement?

 

[TheSkywalker77]

So I am clueless when it come to encryption. When someone says end to end in messaging, does that mean it can not be spied on/hacked etc and read by anyone in any way? Not even the cell network/isp/law enforcement?

Yes, I'm pretty sure that's how it works. Obviously if they get a hold of your phone they can see the whole conversation, but it's encrypted end to end so only you and the person you're chatting with can read the messages.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure that's how it works.

 

[mclld]

No wonder the government would love to do away with it. I would still be skeptical of the actually hardware companies that make the phones or the software companies would have some way of reading or seeing stuff

 

[TheSkywalker77]

No wonder the government would love to do away with it. I would still be skeptical of the actually hardware companies that make the phones or the software companies would have some way of reading or seeing stuff

Knowing Apple and how privacy concerned they are I don't think they'd read your messages with or without end-to-end encryption.

 

[mclld]

I thought Apple was bending to China as well as Google in regards to privacy etc. Seems like I remember reading somethiig about that awhile back but I might be wrong on that though

 

[TheSkywalker77]

I thought Apple was bending to China as well as Google in regards to privacy etc

I don't think so?

 

[SRLMJ23]

So I am clueless when it come to encryption. When someone says end to end in messaging, does that mean it can not be spied on/hacked etc and read by anyone in any way? Not even the cell network/isp/law enforcement?

Say with iMessage, end-to-end encryption. No one, not even Apple can read your messages because Apple does not even keep the decryption keys.

I may be wrong on this part, but with the San Bernardino terrorist attack. I believe in the end after the DOJ/FBI (I even believed they took Apple to court) demanded Apple to let them into the dead terrorists iPhones, Apple could not because as I said above, they do not keep the decryption keys.

Also remember, SMS texts, are not protected at all.

Edit: I have been golfing and drinking beers all day, so I am not thinking completely straight. So if it comes up I am wrong, blame it on the beer! Haha.

 

[Tsepz]

Say with iMessage, end-to-end encryption. No one, not even Apple can read your messages because Apple does not even keep the decryption keys.

I may be wrong on this part, but with the San Bernardino terrorist attack. I believe in the end after the DOJ/FBI (I even believed they took Apple to court) demanded Apple to let them into the dead terrorists iPhones, Apple could not because as I said above, they do not keep the decryption keys.

Also remember, SMS texts, are not protected at all.

Edit: I have been golfing and drinking beers all day, so I am not thinking completely straight. So if it comes up I am wrong, blame it on the beer! Haha.

Haha!

I believe you are right, the DOJ/FBI had to turn to a company that made hacking tools for iPhones instead.

 

[SRLMJ23]

Haha!

I believe you are right, the DOJ/FBI had to turn to a company that made hacking tools for iPhones instead.

And even then, I do not think the DOJ/FBI were able to get the information they wanted.

 

[dumastudetto]

Say with iMessage, end-to-end encryption. No one, not even Apple can read your messages because Apple does not even keep the decryption keys.

I may be wrong on this part, but with the San Bernardino terrorist attack. I believe in the end after the DOJ/FBI (I even believed they took Apple to court) demanded Apple to let them into the dead terrorists iPhones, Apple could not because as I said above, they do not keep the decryption keys.

Also remember, SMS texts, are not protected at all.

Edit: I have been golfing and drinking beers all day, so I am not thinking completely straight. So if it comes up I am wrong, blame it on the beer! Haha.

Yes and only Apple can do this because they fully control the whole stack.
It’s why I’m all in on Apples ecosystems for life.

 

[trusso]

If anything like this ever passes, that'll really put the lie to "representative government." Because I guarantee you that a majority of American citizens would personally vote against such a measure, anytime & anyplace.

It's always a sad state of affairs (though inevitable, perhaps, given human nature) that the institutions which people erect to protect them eventually turn around and enslave them.

 

[sunking101]

We're slowly losing our human right to privacy... sad.

Quickly, not slowly.

 

[Nilhum]

Not surprising. Of course many will say "if you have nothing to hide why worry"

 

[Breaking Good]

If so, I would feel safer giving Zuckerberg (WhatsApp) my data than the government under the Trump administration.

I see. But you would have been perfectly OK with this under the Obama Administration?

So I guess you think it is OK for the Government to violate someone’s privacy when it is someone you don’t agree with.

 

[drinkingtea]

I see. But you would have been perfectly OK with this under the Obama Administration?

So I guess you think it is OK for the Government to violate someone’s privacy when it is someone you don’t agree with.

Nope. Wouldn’t be okay with any government administration violating my privacy.

And, also, I’m not even sure why you brought up Obama or assumed I’d be okay with this under his administration. Jumping to assumptions, I see.