Re:Encrypted Messaging Apps Face New Scrutiny Over Possible ...
by inopinatus on Tuesday November 17, 2015 @01:53AM
(#10579561)
The issue isn't whether the invasive surveillance is acceptable or not.
The issue is that it won't work. If you introduce mandatory backdoors into any commercial messaging system, it will not be used; the Bad Guys(tm) will simply return to using open source crypto, like pgp-over-whatever that we've had for decades.
I.e. if strong crypto is outlawed, then only outlaws will have strong crypto.
The intelligence agencies know this. Anyone pushing for backdoors in the name of counter-terrorism is either a fool or a liar.
The issue is that it won't work. If you introduce mandatory backdoors into any commercial messaging system, it will not be used; the Bad Guys(tm) will simply return to using open source crypto, like pgp-over-whatever that we've had for decades.
I.e. if strong crypto is outlawed, then only outlaws will have strong crypto.
The intelligence agencies know this. Anyone pushing for backdoors in the name of counter-terrorism is either a fool or a liar.