Not even a week has passed since the Paris terror attacks, but Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is wasting no time in calling for new spy powers that would allow the government access to the encryption-protected cellphone of every American who owns one.
Never mind the fact that you don’t need an encrypted device to coordinate your mass killing spree.
McCain, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, told the press Tuesday that he plans to introduce a bill forcing tech companies to offer law enforcement back-door access to all of the encrypted devices it makes and sells.
Apple created a stir when it announced its iOS 8 software would encrypt iPhones in such a way that no one but the user — not even Apple itself — could invade the user’s privacy by breaking into the devices. FBI director James Comey criticized that move in September, telling reporters “there will come a day” when people lose their lives because law enforcement can’t see what’s hidden in a suspect’s cellphone.
McCain is joined by other lawmakers who view the Paris attacks as an opportunity to revive the encryption debate, which had lost momentum after President Obama backed off his push for expanded government access.
From The Hill Tuesday:
Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the second ranking Democrat, told reporters, “I’m open” to law enforcement’s argument “that the new encryption standards make it more difficult for them to do their work.”
“I want to know what we can do to give them access,” added Durbin, who has sided with privacy advocates before on certain cybersecurity-related topics.
McCain was more direct when asked if he would require tech companies to build a portal into their encryption for government officials.
“Yeah, I would,” he said.
But exactly how McCain and his allies might accomplish this is unclear.
McCain said the Armed Services Committee will hold hearings on weakening the personal protections encryption provides and, when that wraps, “we’re going to have legislation.”
Maybe it’s time to start writing everything down on paper once again.
http://personalliberty.com/mccain-cant-wait-see-whats-cellphone/
Nothing to see, @sswipe.
It is my prayer that others out there can see how orchestrated this whole affair has been. France has a terror attack. A false flag in my opinion. Brennan, of the CIA, places the blame on Edward Snowden, claiming Snowden’s revelations hand cuffed the CIA/NSA’s blanket surveillance of the world, (but especially Americans.) The MSM jumps on the band wagon and comes up with stories of Syrians in Honduras, headed for the U.S.A. Other Syrians are caught in Laredo, Texas with phony passports to ramp up the fear factor in America. (You’ll see more of this in coming days.) Then, the Senate votes to give the Traitor-in-Chief, more war powers.(Keep in mind the Republicans control the Senate.) Don’t you all remember a similar scenario in the Bush administration for the war in Iraq? I am waiting with impatience for Comey, of the FBI, to weigh in with his fear factor announcement, supporting the Traitor-in-Chief. The CIA created, funded, trained and armed ISIS. Sadly, the only ones who see through this latest bullshit of the Americans and Turkey, are the Russians. Never in my life, did I think I’d say anything complimentary about the Russians, but facts are facts. Go Russia! Bomb the living dog shit out of the CIA’s patsies.
Let’s say we were all stupid enough to agree to let the pigs see whatever was on our cell phones or other electronic devices — “for the children,” of course. Then what?
Then of course they’d insist on being able to search our homes whenever they wanted to, since their lack of authority to do so was allowing some potential terrorists and other dangerous felons to escape detection.
Next would come a law requiring each citizen to have a surveillance camera installed in each room of his home, since that would undoubtedly aid in the solving of serious crimes such as domestic battery and child abuse.
It’s obvious that the slope here is very slippery indeed. The obvious solution is to never start down that slope in the first place. When inalienable rights present an obstacle to law enforcement, then that’s too bad for law enforcement. “Inalienable” means exactly that, and the right to have private conversations is as basic a right as any.
maybe showing them the business end of a 44 mag when they ask for your phone might get some attention?.. just wondering