Encryption can be a terrorist's tool. But it's also a key for those hunting attackers, and for many others. The technology for encryption can keep data and conversations private, making it a double-edged sword that can equally be used by democracy campaigners, law enforcement or violent extremists.
The November 13 attacks in Paris spurred calls for better tools for investigators to track criminals who rely on encrypted communications. But no solution is readily available that would avoid major impacts on privacy, civil liberties and a wide range of online communications including electronic commerce. The US government is both a supporter of encryption -- funding projects aimed at helping pro-democracy activists -- while at the same time pressing for ways to gain access to encrypted data for certain investigations.
Interest in encryption has been growing since revelations in documents leaked in 2013 by former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden describing the NSA's vast abilities to sweep up data. But officials from the CIA, NSA and FBI as well as lawmakers and local law enforcement leaders have complained that they are "going dark," unable to tap into new encrypted apps and smartphones which may be locked down with keys available only to users.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton joined the debate, saying "we should take the concerns of law enforcement and counterterrorism professionals seriously." Clinton said Thursday that "we need Silicon Valley not to view government as its adversary." But technology specialists in the private sector argue that any "back door" allowing authorities to gain access to encrypted data, could also be exploited by a hacker, or used by repressive regimes as well as democratic ones.
Technology players defend the principles of encryption, saying it is legitimately used to keep data confidential by Fortune 500 companies, government leaders, journalists and dissidents around the world. The US government has acknowledged this need by funding projects for secure and encrypted communications through the Open Technology Fund led by Radio Free Asia, and which Meinrath has advised. Illustrating the complexity of the issue, however, the fund provided more than $1.3 million to the Open Whisper project -- whose Redphone and Signal apps have been deemed "safe" by IS for its members to use.
The US military also created the Tor network for encrypted communications, which was developed for secret military communications but is also used now for underground "Darknet" markets. Under pressure to act following the Paris attacks, Silent Circle and others took some steps to make it harder for terrorists to use their services.
Telegram, a secure communications app created by Russian Internet guru Pavel Durov, said it had blocked dozens of accounts associated with IS that were reportedly being used to spread extremist propaganda. Activists say the current debate revives the 1990s "crypto war" battle when the government sought a special "key" for Internet communications, before throwing in the towel.
Encryption backers say it is like any other technology -- whether it is a car, telephone or gun -- which can be used for good or evil.
