FBI director James Comey has once again criticised Apple’s iPhone and devices running Android that can hold secure, encrypted data that is inaccessible by law enforcement.
He said that such capabilities allow users to “place themselves beyond the law” and that unbreakable encryption of user data has “gone too far.”
He said he is concerned that even with a legal court order, the information secured on a smartphone could be kept secret, even in the cases of kidnapping, child exploitation or terrorism.
Comey did say on 60 Minutes that he believes there should be restrictions, review and oversight when it comes to law enforcement. He said that his organisation does not do any electronic surveillance without a court order, saying he likes the “extremely burdensome process”.
