The FBI's goal is to obtain access to those keys without your knowledge in order to investigate criminal activity. The result would be a vastly overreaching and unprecedented system of information access that would allow the government to obtain more personal information than ever before. In essence, your ability to communicate and store information in a way that is not relatively quick and easy for the government to read would be prohibited by law. It would provide law enforcement greater access to private information, which is fundamentally intrusive and threatens our constitutionally protected right to privacy. Health records, credit card numbers, credit histories and tax information protected by encryption could all become more vulnerable to misuse.
Strong encryption enhances law enforcement.
Imagine the potential increase in computer crimes if all the information on computers and information networks protected by encryption became more susceptible to theft or tampering because encryption keys were being widely misused under a misguided government policy. U.S. companies are missing out on a critical growth opportunity and are losing global, technological leadership that benefits U.S. law enforcement. In addition, air traffic control centers, electric-power grids, defense systems, financial services, oil and gas producers and suppliers, telecommunications networks and the stock market all operate and communicate by computer. Any legislation should better position the U.S. in world markets. Back in 1991, a multilateral agreement among Western nations ended restrictions on the export of most encryption products, but the U.S. maintained its rigid controls.