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FBI Tells Congress It Needs Hackers To Keep Up With Tech Company Encryption (buzzfeed.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the group-effort dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from BuzzFeed: A high ranking technology official with the FBI told members of Congress Tuesday that the agency is incapable of cracking locked phones and devices on its own, even with additional resources. Amy Hess, the agency's executive assistant director for science and technology told a panel of the House Energy and Commerce Committee that encrypted communications continue to pose a challenge to the American law enforcement, and to the safety of the American public. But when asked by lawmakers to provide a practical solution beyond the FBI's talking points, she said that the cooperation of technology companies would be necessary. According to the New York Times, "The FBI defended its hiring of a third-party company to break into an iPhone used by a gunman in last year's San Bernardino, Calif., mass shooting, telling some lawmakers on Tuesday that it needed to join with partners in the rarefied world of for-profit hackers as technology companies increasingly resist their demands for consumer information." They are stressing the importance of cooperation with tech companies and "third parties" to help fight terrorism, claiming they do not have the capabilities and resources available to crack encrypted devices. Congress is currently debating potential legislation on encryption.

3 of 103 comments (clear)

  1. Dear FBI and US Gov by Quzak · · Score: 5, Informative

    We will keep making more sophisticated encryption. You will not beable to keep pace with our progress. We do not want you in our devices, fuck your laws. Crapfully yours, The internet

    --
    Support your local school shooter, give them your firearms.
    1. Re:Dear FBI and US Gov by ArmoredDragon · · Score: 5, Informative

      I think one of the bigger things hurting the FBI is they are so exclusive towards otherwise talented people compared to the private sector, and so their human resource pool leaves a lot to be desired. For example, even though polygraph is nothing more than an intimidation tactic that is basically useless, (and people who know it's a load of crap aren't intimidated by it) they won't hire anybody without subjecting them to it. They also exclude anybody who has at any point in their life consumed cannabis, which is in many ways more benign than alcohol.

      On top of it all, they don't pay shit compared to private sector jobs. (In only my second year after graduation, I already make more than most FBI agents at GS12 by just doing datacenter work.)

  2. Re:incompatible by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Most hackers would not compromise their ethics enough for the FBI