Bill to Ban FBI Backdoors

by Cheri Roberts, Challenging the Rhetoric, The Guerilla Media Network

Last Thursday, anti-NSA spying Senator, Ron Wyden — the Democrat in Oregon, introduced a bill that would ban FBI and other governmental ‘built-in’ backdoors. If passed, the bill would allow companies to encrypt without interference from the Govt. The bill known as the, Secure Data Act ,would prohibit government agencies from requiring any “backdoors” in US software or hardware.

Wyden says,

“Strong encryption and sound computer security is the best way to keep Americans’ data safe from hackers and foreign threats. It is the best way to protect our constitutional rights at a time when a person’s whole life can often be found on his or her smartphone. And strong computer security can rebuild consumer trust that has been shaken by years of misstatements by intelligence agencies about mass surveillance of Americans. This bill sends a message to leaders of those agencies to stop recklessly pushing for new ways to vacuum up Americans’ private information, and instead put that effort into rebuilding public trust.”

Wyden’s site further explains the bill,

Government-driven technology mandates to weaken data security for the purpose of aiding government investigations would compromise national security, economic security and personal privacy:

• Cyber vulnerabilities weaken cybersecurity.  Once a backdoor is built in a security system, the security of the system is inherently compromised.  For example, in 2005 it was revealed that an unknown entity had exploited a “lawful intercept” capability built into Greek cellphone systems and had used it to listen to users’ phone calls, including those of dozens of senior government officials.

• Technology mandates thwart innovation.  Companies have less incentive to invest in the development and deployment of strong new data security technologies if they are required to compromise them from the outset. 

• Mandating weak security would further erode trust in American products and services.  Information technology companies are working to regain the trust of consumers upset by revelations of government intrusions into their personal communications.  A mandate requiring companies to facilitate additional government surveillance would undermine those efforts.

You can see the full text of the bill HERE or download a one-page summary HERE.

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