FBI Tried and Failed to Unlock 7,000 Encrypted Devices

FBI says encryption is ‘a huge, huge problem.’

The FBI failed to gain access to around 7,000 encrypted mobile devices over an 11 month period, about half of those targeted by the agency according to the FBI.

In a speech given at the Association of Chiefs of Police, the director of the FBI said that device encryption was “a huge, huge problem,” for the agency.

This isn’t the first time the FBI has made their position on secured communications clear. In 2014, Director James Comey said that secure communications would lead to “a very dark place” and called for Congress to make the necessary changes to the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act.

Wray said at the conference of the Association of Chiefs of Police, “I get it, there’s a balance that needs to be struck between encryption and the importance of giving us the tools we need to keep the public safe.” But as experts point out, Wray doesn’t know what he is talking about and encryption is here to stay.

 

 

Photo: “Defend-encryption-cyan-1” by EFF Photos is licensed under CC BY 2.0