Perilous Times
FBI agents seek the right to tap texts, emails and websites
US intelligence services would be allowed to tap text messages, emails
and networking websites under new powers being considered by Barack
Obama's administration.
By Alex Spillius, Washington
Published: 8:31PM BST 27 Sep 2010
The Telegraph UK
The FBI says extremists and drug cartels are increasingly communicating
online rather than using telephones Photo: CORBIS
The FBI says extremists and drug cartels are increasingly communicating
online rather than using telephones, leaving US investigators
struggling to keep track of them.
A new bill requesting the additional powers to investigate suspected
criminals and terrorists will be presented next year. It is likely to
face stiff opposition from civil liberties advocates who say the
security services have historically abused extensions of power.
James Dempsey, of the pressure group Centre for Democracy and
Technology, said: "They are really asking for the authority to redesign
services that take advantage of the unique architecture of the
internet."
The proposals are likely to require that all encrypted messaging
services, such as BlackBerry, include a facility or back door, that
would allow investigators to examine communications with a warrant.
Any foreign communications providers operating in America would also
have to have an office in the country able to provide intercepts.
Software developers of internet communication services such as Skype,
which are heavily encrypted, would be required to redesign their
products to enable interception.
Valerie Caproni, the FBI's general counsel, said: "We're talking about
lawfully authorised intercepts.
"We're talking about preserving our ability to execute our existing
authority in order to protect the public safety and national security."
Apart from ethical objections, experts said there were significant
technical hurdles.
Creating a back door to encrypted services would provide hackers with
another opening, said Steven Bellovin, professor of computer science at
Columbia University.
"There are lots of really sophisticated attackers out there," he said.
"Do we really want to create a new area of attack? It may prevent some
crimes but it could lead to new ones."
In Britain, encrypted messages can be examined in a criminal
investigation under the Regulation of Investigatory Power Act.