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Governments of the World Agree: Encryption Must Die!

Posted by timothy on from the eavesdropping-a-love-affair dept.

Lauren Weinstein writes: Finally! There's something that apparently virtually all governments around the world can actually agree upon. Unfortunately, it's on par conceptually with handing out hydrogen bombs as lottery prizes. If the drumbeat isn't actually coordinated, it might as well be. Around the world, in testimony before national legislatures and in countless interviews with media, government officials and their surrogates are proclaiming the immediate need to "do something" about encryption that law enforcement and other government agencies can't read on demand. Apropos: This IT World story (and the New York Times piece it draws from — also published today) about a newly disclosed NSA program through which the agency is "reportedly intercepting Internet communications from U.S. residents without getting court-ordered warrants."

10 of 221 comments (clear)

  1. That will only waste bandwidth by mc6809e · · Score: 4, Insightful

    as people start to use steganographic methods.

    1. Re:That will only waste bandwidth by Jane+Q.+Public · · Score: 5, Insightful

      People will never stop using cryptography, laws or not.

      We went through this crap in the 80s, then the 90s, then again around 2000. It's just plain ridiculous, causes problems, and never works. Trying to "regulate" cryptography is like trying to regulate what a pencil is capable of writing.

    2. Re:That will only waste bandwidth by fustakrakich · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Demonizing is the real ploy. They know it can't really be regulated, but if they get the public to vilify encryption users as criminals, mission accomplished! So far these methods are enjoying a small measure of success.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  2. Encryption users agree: by fustakrakich · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Governments of the world must die!

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    1. Re:Encryption users agree: by cayenne8 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Letting the corporations run the world as a collection of fiefdoms isn't better than what we have now.

      I thought that was EXACTLY what we currently had right now.....?

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    2. Re: Encryption users agree: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Corporate fascism is what you have, there is nothing even remotely close to socialism in the US, it is merely the ultra-nationalist right that paints the moderate right as leftists which is skewing your perceptions.

  3. Re:So how about copy protection? by hawguy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Copy protection often uses a form of encryption. Do they want this to be banned as well?

    Clearly not - the government is fine with encryption that's trivially broken, they only want to control strong encryption.

  4. WHY IS IT... by Thud457 · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Why is it that law enforcement seems to be so goddamned unprofessional and lazy these days?

    "ohh no, encryption is terrism"
    "clearing your browser history is destroying evimadence"
    "don't video me while I'm beating this black man"
    "the fourth amendment is a obsolete holdover from the 19th century"

    Put on your big girl pants and do you fucking job by the book you shifty slackers.

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

  5. Re:Encryption is a WEAPON by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Encryption is a SHIELD.

    It protects people from spies, fraudsters, and other 3 letter criminals.

  6. Re:Nations fear it, but they fear each other more. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "bad guys" will continue to use home made encryption and not give a fuck what governments say.