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03/28/2024 06:33:03 pm

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Smartphone Encryption Might Lead To Child's Death, According To DOJ

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(Photo : Reuters) The Department of Justice is trying to get Apple and Google to stop encrypting smartphones, with the classic "think of the children" ploy.

Apple and Google are not winning fans within the government, after announcing the start of full encryption for all smartphones.

The new encryption techniques mean even the suppliers - Apple and Google - will not be able to access the user's information. If authorities come knocking, this means neither can provide access to the smartphone.

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U.S. deputy attorney general James Cole does not like this one bit. The attorney general met with Apple on October 1, and claimed the new encryption was marketing to criminals.

Cole has followed up with the scenario that one day a child will be kidnapped and with the new encryption, authorities will not be able to access the smartphone for information on the whereabouts.

After the allegations made by Edward Snowden, the tech community has distanced itself from the government. New barriers have been made with encryption to make sure customers are safe from the government's overbearing surveillance programs.

FBI Director James B. Comey tried to get the encryption rule overturned in Congress, but was thrown out when all three party members claimed the FBI had its chance and blew it, when other agencies decided to spy on citizens.

It will be extremely hard for the Department of Justice or any other department in the U.S. to win back the support of Google or Apple. This may lead to indirect hacking or other routes to obtain information on the suspect, like we have seen before.

Other countries are looking to move away from U.S. support. Brazil recently built a fiber line that would not connect to the U.S., to make sure the government could not spy on citizens in the country. Germany is also looking at measures to cut back on U.S. surveillance.

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