Mikey Campbell
FBI Director James Comey on Wednesday said the U.S. government will continue to wage legal war with tech companies to gain access to encrypted devices, intimating that such measures are weakening terror organizations like ISIL.
At an FBI briefing, Comey said gaining privileged access to passcode locked — or otherwise protected — devices is an important national security concern as encryption is now "essential tradecraft" of terror groups, reports Reuters. He suggested FBI investigations, including those that involve digital evidence retrieval, are helping dissuade Americans from joining militant groups.
"I think the ISIL brand has lost significant power in the United States," Comey said, adding that his agency currently has more than 1,000 ongoing investigations into individuals in danger of being radicalized.
The Department of Justice sparked contentious debate over rights to personal encryption when it requested Apple cooperate in accessing deceased San Bernardino terror suspect Syed Rizwan Farook's iPhone in February. Apple, citing the potential fallout of creating a software workaround to installed iOS protections, resisted the warrant. At the behest of an All Writs Act motion, a federal magistrate judge consequently compelled Apple's compliance, but the court action stopped short of reaching an initial evidentiary hearing, as an effective workaround presented by an outside party prompted the FBI to withdraw its case in an eleventh hour decision.
According to today's report, the FBI is attempting to apply the iPhone exploit to other cases, but has so far been unsuccessful. Comey said much the same last month when he revealed the forensics tool only applies to iPhone 5c models and older. The FBI has unlocked some 500 devices since October, though none are the same configuration as Farook's iPhone 5c running iOS 9.
Comey did not elaborate on upcoming litigation, but the FBI has yet to notch a win when it comes to AWA motions. The agency appears to be focusing on Apple, lodging — and ultimately withdrawing — two high-profile court cases in San Bernardino and a similar AWA action in New York.
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
Christine McKee
Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
Andrew Orr
28 Comments
So, the FBI is at war with the US public and chasing unicorns too (war with encryption (sic)).
The FBI is hoping people will put short passcodes? Hope away dear FBI, cause that's the only way you're getting into those encrypted phones.
The use of the word unlocked for those phone is utter bullshit; just like the abuse of the word "hacked".
This is complete and utter nonsense Comey; nice try though.
Hire a better bull shit artist next time.
you've lost all credibility, director comey. please stop talking.
This asshole needs to read the Bill of Rights. And while we're at it, so does Congress & the President
So ISIL's brand is tarnished? How does the FBI looking into 1000 potential suspects (Who have not done anything wrong that we know of) because they might be "radicalized" at some point mean that the ISIL brand is tarnished? If there are a legitimate 1000 people on the verge of being radicalized, it sounds like business is booming for ISIL.
How does Comey not see that this is tarnishing the FBI's brand? He really needs to stop talking.