Will the US tech giants weaken encryption on Congress demand?

Tech companies might be forced to comply with “lawful access” to encrypted information, possibly threatening the technology’s security features.

A short time ago a group of  Republican lawmakers introduced the Lawful Access to Encrypted Data Act, which can bring to an end “warrant-proof” encryption. If the bill is passed, the act will require tech companies to assist investigators with access encrypted data in case such assistance would help with a warrant.

Lawmakers and the US Justice Department have long argued with tech companies over encryption, which is used to encode data. The Justice Department claims that encryption prevents investigators from getting the necessary evidence from suspects’ electronic devices and has requested that tech giants provide “lawful access.”

Giving access specifically to government agencies upon request is often referred to as an “encryption backdoor,”  which endangers privacy and might harm citizens.

Encryption is used to protect citizens’ personal data from hackers, authoritarian governments and abusive intruders by providing security measures that even the companies themselves aren’t able to crack. Investigators  ability to legally access that data raises concerns that the method could also open the door for criminals or hackers to abuse that exposure.

The legislation proposed does not explicitly demand tech companies to create a backdoor making it up to companies to decide  how to comply with lawful access orders. Besides, tech companies are allowed to appeal to the federal court to change or set aside the orders for information exposure.

Many world-known companies oppose the idea of weakening encryption, Facebook and Apple among them. The Justice Department has criticized these companies for embracing encryption, arguing the technology is protecting terrorists and all sorts of criminals.

The bill hasn’t been approved yet, however, it has brought out the matter of encryption and privacy on the agenda of the US tech companies and broader public.