[LINK] Spy agencies pushing for new powers to access end-to-end encryption

[Stephen Loosley]

Quote: “Peter Dutton has urged Facebook and Apple NOT to redesign their applications to allow for end-to-end encryption in a way that denies law enforcement agencies access to the communications (and that)  there was a problem with companies refusing to provide access to encrypted data when police and ASIO had a warrant.


In the strongest signal yet that security agencies are pushing for new powers to access end-to-end encrypted content, Australia's top spy boss,  Mike Burgess has criticised tech companies for resisting requests by police and security agencies to access information in cyberspace.

In a podcast with the Institute of Public Administration Australia, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation director-general said Australia was "sadly ... less safe", with the threats that pre-dated the pandemic, "still very much with us and of course we've got the big issue of dealing with COVID itself".

"Obviously we've seen more people at home, and as they're at home they're online, and we've seen increased chatter in the online world when it comes to the spread of extremist ideology attempting to radicalise people," Mr Burgess said.

Agencies had also seen more cybercrime, and espionage "hasn't gone away – in some cases things have got busier, especially in the online space".

"And once you're online, [there are] hackers ... so it's a world of opportunity for criminals and nation-states and extremists," he said.

The Morrison government has been considering giving police and security agencies new powers to access end-to-end encrypted content to fight online child sex abuse networks and other serious criminals if tech giants don't co-operate more on requests for information.

Companies such as Facebook are introducing end-to-end encryption across their messaging platforms, which prevents anyone from being able to read private messages by encrypting both ends of a conversation.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has previously urged Facebook and Apple NOT to redesign their applications to allow for end-to-end encryption in a way that denies law enforcement agencies access to the communications in serious criminal investigations. But Facebook has argued any weakening of encryption would be a "gift" to the world's criminals, hackers and dictators and would endanger innocent people.

Mr Burgess said having private communications was a "good thing", but there was a problem with companies refusing to provide access to encrypted data when police and ASIO had a warrant.

"The real challenge comes though when you have a lawful need – so the police are investigating something or ASIO is investigating something and they've got a warrant and they want to get access and those providers actually refuse to co-operate with governments," he said.

"That's a problem for me because ... as societies, especially democratic societies, we understand we operate within the rule of law."

Mr Burgess said while privacy was paramount, it was "not total because there's a balance between privacy and security" and when appropriate warrants were in place, police or ASIO should be able to access information.

"And to be very clear here, it's one of those interesting dilemmas of this intangible nature of the internet," he said.


By Anthony Galloway  June 9, 2020
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/covid-has-made-australia-less-safe-asio-boss-20200608-p550hv.html