Giant tech companies might have to access encrypted data soon if ever one bill is passed. According to CNET, a team of Senate Republicans has been trying to push the Lawful Access to Encrypted Data Act that would force tech companies to access any encrypted area required by the law and put their security features in danger.
The bill was introduced Tuesday, June 23, by Sen. Lindsey Graham, the chairman of the Senate judiciary committee, as well as Senators Marsha Blackburn and Tom Cotton.
Tech companies believe the legislation could cause more harm than good.
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Based on the report, the team of senators wanted to push the bill, which aims to end the "warrant proof" encryption that is disrupting tons of criminal investigations. If the bill becomes law, it would require tech companies to help law enforcement, especially investigators, to access any encrypted information that could help solve the case and issue a warrant.
Lawful Access to Encrypted Data Act: Hindering investigations or a threat to security?
According to the US Justice Department, data encryption hinders criminal investigations from getting the necessary evidence from a suspect's devices. Because of that, lawmakers and the Justice Department have long been trying to make tech companies work with them and allow them to have "lawful access" to any encrypted data that they might deem as helpful in a criminal case.
Last March, Graham and a bipartisan group of senators also proposed another act that would take away tech companies' legal shield if they kept helping child predators through tools like encryption. Nevertheless, it could pose a serious threat to the security of the companies' consumers.
If government agencies ask for access to encrypted data and are provided with it, tech experts usually call it "encryption backdoor," and it does happen in some cases. However, they argue it could actually hurt more people than help them.
End-to-end encryption (E2EE) is what secures the data of billions of people around the world from cybercriminals, hackers, and even abusers. It offers security measures that even tech companies won't be able to crack.
If they provide investigators a way to unlock the encryption code, hackers and criminals might use that to their advantage and abuse it, jeopardizing the safety of many.
Facebook Reacts to the Proposed Bill
Among the companies that reacted was Facebook, emphasizing yet again, the importance of E2EE in offering security for the people.
However, the proposed legislation introduced by the Republicans states that the attorney general could not give specific steps on how the tech companies would provide access to encrypted data and that they could appeal to the federal court to either set aside the orders or change them.
"My position is clear: After law enforcement obtains the necessary court authorizations, they should be able to retrieve information to assist in their investigations," Sen. Graham said. "Our legislation respects and protects the privacy rights of law-abiding Americans. It also puts the terrorists and criminals on notice that they will no longer be able to hide behind technology to cover their tracks."
