Re:Senators propose lawful access to encrypted data
by dragonwriter on Saturday June 27, 2020 @01:50PM
(#23663304)
The power of the government to issue warrants has never (in the US constitutional system) implied a limit on freedom so that people may only possess things (including forms of communication) that are practically amenable to discovery of meaning by way of search via a warrant.
It just means government can, with legally sufficient justification, seize something. It's their job, if they want to understand it, to find a way to do it. Restricting communication to means which are easily subject to correct interpretation when seized is a violation of the First Amendment right to free speech and also exposes people to security risks from threats other than the lawful government, since if it can be compromised by a lawful seizure by government it can be compromised by an unlawful seizure by any other party.
It just means government can, with legally sufficient justification, seize something. It's their job, if they want to understand it, to find a way to do it. Restricting communication to means which are easily subject to correct interpretation when seized is a violation of the First Amendment right to free speech and also exposes people to security risks from threats other than the lawful government, since if it can be compromised by a lawful seizure by government it can be compromised by an unlawful seizure by any other party.