Encryption of communications in the viewfinder of the government – BFMTV.COM

operating systems, messaging … the means to protect their communications by encrypting today are numerous. But Bernard Cazeneuve wish initiate a European initiative against this practice that would hurt him as the fight against terrorism. Reuters reports that in fact the Minister of the Interior plans to move closer to Germany “to prepare an international initiative to deal with this new challenge.”

Bernard Cazeneuve has however, leaked no details on how he intended to proceed. “France will make proposals, I sent in a number in my German counterpart”, he was content to add the 11th of August. That he seeks? Forcing smartphone manufacturers to create or access stolen a master key in their programs for the authorities to access the data?

Against the advice of security experts

This track would go against the recommendations of the very serious ANSSI (National computer security agency) made the 4 August. Its CEO Guillaume Poupard pointed to that date that the encryption techniques are one of the most effective ways to fight against computer attacks increasing and becoming more sophisticated. “They alone possible to ensure security of sensitive digital data,” he had then advanced. Develop ways to circumvent it would necessarily weaken and endanger the information in the fields of health, national security, corporate strategy and privacy of every citizen.

same story on the side of the CNIL issued a favorable position encryption on April 8, adding that the bypass would be “very difficult to implement” and probably not robust over time, against attacks from states or organized crime. The game will not be worth it so. For ANSSI and the CNIL, would be better to emphasize cooperation with service providers and security products.

Apple refused to unlock the iPhone 5C San Bernardino

but are iT giants ready to make such concessions? Not sure. We remember the case of the iPhone 5C San Bernardino during which Apple refused to unlock the device. Matter of principle and picture: there was no question of betraying the trust of its users and to create a precedent. The FBI then had to pay hackers to do so.

It must be said that the PRISM case, this mass surveillance NSA program revealed in 2013 by the whistleblower Edward Snowden, has left traces. The small world of tech was then soaked for cooperating secretly with the US authorities. And has continued since to offer messaging and increasingly protective operating systems of privacy. Today, they are stigmatized because their tools are also used by terrorists … We look forward to hearing the proposals of the French government to get out of this puzzle.