|
The
Federal Bureau of Investigation is pushing technology companies
to let law enforcement authorities have access to encrypted
communications to investigate illegal activities. Those
companies have resisted, arguing that such access would weaken
systems against criminals and computer hackers.
Comey has previously criticized Apple Inc and Google Inc for
ramping up encryption.
Comey told a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing that
Islamic State, also known by the acronym ISIL, is imploring
supporters through Twitter to carry out attacks. Related
conversations often take place via end-to-end encryption mobile
communications that are unreadable to anyone other than those
sending or receiving the messages.
"The tools we are asked to use are increasingly ineffective,"
Comey said. "ISIL says go kill, go kill...we are stopping these
things so far...but it is incredibly difficult. I cannot see me
stopping these indefinitely."
Comey later told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
that the FBI now estimated more than 200 Americans have traveled
or attempted to travel to Syria to fight for Islamic militants.
Comey, citing a lack of reliable data, acknowledged to lawmakers
that he did not know how often the FBI cannot access encrypted
communications.
Earlier, Comey and Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates rejected
the notion that the government is seeking backdoor access to
encrypted communications.
"We are not seeking a front door, back door, or any kind of
door...but we are seeking to work with the industry," Yates
said. She urged Congress to work with Silicon Valley and said
they were looking to tailor solutions to individual companies.
Yates said that some technology companies already access users'
encrypted information to sell advertisements. She did not rule
out introducing legislation on the issue if an agreement with
technology companies cannot be reached.
An industry association which represents major software and
hardware companies reiterated its stance against government
access.
"Weak encryption is essentially no encryption, leaving all
consumers vulnerable to breaches of privacy and cybercrime," the
group said in a statement.
On Tuesday, a prominent group of computer scientists released a
report rebutting U.S. and British government proposals for
exceptional access, citing the potential for hacking and abuse.
(Reporting by Lindsay Dunsmuir; Editing by Christian Plumb and
Grant McCool)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
|
