“Enter Bruce Schneier. The crypto expert and best-selling author has spent the last few months bolstering an economic case for why the U.S. should reject any proposed mandates for ‘backdoored’ encryption,” Robert Hackett reports for Fortune. “In fact, Schneier counts 546 reasons.”
“The U.S. is not the only place in the world that creates encryption products. If the nation were to strong-arm companies headquartered on its turf into weakening their encryption standards or building in access points for the benefit of cops and Feds, business would suffer,” Hackett reports. “Consumers—not to mention the worst criminals—could simply flock to whichever overseas service offers better privacy and protection.”
“Oh, and companies could relocate too,” Hackett reports. “In 2014, for example, the communications firm Silent Circle moved to Switzerland, citing the country’s historical neutrality in its decision. Imagine if Apple, one of the world’s most valuable companies and an outspoken critic of encryption ‘backdoors,’ chose to uproot itself?”
MacDailyNews Take: Big empty spaceship in Cupertino. But, Apple has enough money to build 43 more spaceship campuses. Switzerland is a beautiful country. There are many beautiful countries. Countries that not only understand encryption, but also corporate taxation issues. We’re sure any one of these countries would love the massive amount of clean, high-paying jobs (read: taxable personal income) that Apple would deliver.
“546? That’s the number of encryption products developed abroad. Although Schneier cautions that the data set is not comprehensive, he says he believes it is a good representation of the present global market,” Hackett reports. “Two-thirds of encrypted products, by his team’s count, originate outside the U.S.; each can be viewed as a possible alternative, thus a threat, to American industry.”
“Germany, which claims the number two spot, has already firmly staked out a position opposing encryption ‘backdoors,'” Hackett reports. “The Netherlands, tied for ninth, recently did the same. Either could become attractive alternatives for consumers if the U.S. were to make ‘backdoors’ compulsory.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: The idea of encryption “backdoors” should be opposed because it’s a stupid, unworkable fantasy promoted by idiots who don’t understand basic math and who have never read Orwell, much less the U.S. Constitution. But, if economic threats are what it takes to wise them up, so be it.
Adhere to the U.S. Constitution.
Visit the Apple-backed reformgovernmentsurveillance.com today.
SEE ALSO:
Why Apple defends encryption so jealously – January 20, 2016
Apple, Tim Cook, and encryption discussed with Jeb Bush during Republican Debate in Charleston – January 15, 2016
Apple CEO Tim Cook opposes government back door to encryption – December 21, 2015
Donald Trump: To stop ISIS recruiting, maybe we should be talking to Bill Gates about ‘closing that Internet up in some way’ – December 21, 2015
Hillary Clinton: We need to put Silicon Valley tech firms to ‘work at disrupting ISIS’ – December 7, 2015
Tim Cook attacks Google, U.S. federal government over right to privacy abuses – June 3, 2015
Apple CEO Tim Cook advocates privacy, says terrorists should be ‘eliminated’ – February 27, 2015
Apple’s iPhone encryption is a godsend, even if government snoops and cops hate it – October 8, 2014
Short-timer U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder blasts Apple for protecting users’ privacy against government overreach – September 30, 2014
FBI blasts Apple for protective users’ privacy by locking government, police out of iPhones and iPads – September 25, 2014
Apple thinks different about privacy – September 23, 2014
Apple CEO Tim Cook ups privacy to new level, takes direct swipe at Google – September 18, 2014
Apple will no longer unlock most iPhones, iPads for government, police – even with search warrants – September 18, 2014
Would you trade privacy for national security? Most Americans wouldn’t – August 6, 2014
Apple begins encrypting iCloud email sent between providers – July 15, 2014
Obama administration demands master encryption keys from firms in order to conduct electronic surveillance against Internet users – July 24, 2013
U.S. NSA seeks to build quantum computer to crack most types of encryption – January 3, 2014
Apple’s iMessage encryption trips up U.S. feds’ surveillance – April 4, 2013