Apple has joined a large group of privacy advocates in an appeal urging President Obama to reject efforts to weaken the security of smartphones and other communications devices — the letter was obtained by The Washington Post. Facing increasing pressure from the FBI, CIA and other government agencies to make encrypted information available in the name of safety, the group of tech firms, security experts and other organizations argues that keeping user data private guards against worse threats.
“Encryption protects billions of people every day against countless threats — be they street criminals trying to steal our phones and laptops, computer criminals trying to defraud us, corporate spies trying to obtain our companies’ most valuable trade secrets, repressive governments trying to stifle dissent, or foreign intelligence agencies trying to compromise our and our allies’ most sensitive national security secrets,” the letter reads.
The group claims introducing intentional vulnerabilities into secure products increases the likelihood of those same weak points being exploited by malicious attackers, undermining the security of both private citizens and entire governments.
Citing an international chilling effect that the U.S. could create by forcing weaken encryption domestically, the group closed its appeal by pointing out the dire human rights risks if far less tolerant countries are emboldened to make similar demands.
