FBI still demanding back doors to encryption [telecom]

Crypto Wars II

In this month's edition of Crypto-Gram, the ever-trenchant Bruce Schneier (who coined the term "Security Theater" to describe the TSA) has a little fun debunking son-of-clipper-chip claims by the FBI that amount to a demand for a back-door in all encryption protocols.

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FBI Director James Comey again called for an end to secure encryption by putting in a backdoor. Here's his speech:

There is a misconception that building a lawful intercept solution into a system requires a so-called "back door," one that foreign adversaries and hackers may try to exploit.

But that isn't true. We aren't seeking a back-door approach. We want to use the front door, with clarity and transparency, and with clear guidance provided by law. We are completely comfortable with court orders and legal process -- front doors that provide the evidence and information we need to investigate crime and prevent terrorist attacks.

(rest snipped)

I'm not sure why he believes he can have a technological means of access that somehow only works for people of the correct morality with the proper legal documents, but he seems to believe that's possible. As Jeffrey Vagle and Matt Blaze point out, there's no technical difference between Comey's "front door" and a "back door."

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Bill Horne
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