Technology Firms Resist US Over Access to Data
In June of 2013, former contractor for the CIA, Edward Snowden,
leaked information about the US government concerning confidential information
that had been obtained through spying on other countries communications. This breach in security left consumers and
other countries concerned with the safety of their information and
communications. Since then, there have been other instances where the US
government has asked for information from corporations such as Microsoft and
Apple to assist in their investigations into various crimes.
When Apple was asked by the Justice department to allow them
to see text messages that their suspect had sent, Apple responded that: “Its
iMessage system was encrypted and the company could not comply.” The government had warned consumers and
companies that this would happen due to the increase in advanced encryption
used by Microsoft and Apple in order to ensure the safety of information for
their consumers. Currently, the
investigation on Apple is tabled and no new developments have surfaced.
However, Microsoft is now being asked to reveal by the
Federal Court of New York to release emails sent by drug trafficking suspects
to aid in the investigation. However,
Microsoft refused by saying that the information would be held in an Irish
database as the emails were sent from Dublin, Ireland.
In both of these examples, they have demonstrated a
heightened company resistance in regards to the safety of information sent by
their consumers. If the US government is
able to win this case and obtain these various emails from an Irish database,
then that will open the doors for other countries to have access to
communications from US databases as well.
Consequently, if this were to happen both national and public safety of information
would be at risk. Some Chinese firms have
already made plans to build facilities on American soil in order to have access
to communications sent across the country.
Currently, Apple and Microsoft use encryption as their main
mode of safety which inhibits the ability to obtain email and messages. In order to combat this, government agencies
would like for companies such as Apple and Microsoft to adopt and function
under the wiretap legislation. By doing
so, the legislation states that listening to live communications is under
violation, however forms such as text messages and emails are able legally be
obtained. While the issue is still being
debated, Apple and Microsoft have said they would be willing to compromise
under the right circumstances. However,
public and national security are still the number one factor to consider moving
forward as well as the implications it could have for foreign countries to have
access to US information and vice versa.
2 comments:
This is an interesting take on information within a market. The firms are trying to secure their places within the market as a place where consumers can be sure that their own information is safe. However, the information that the firms are ensuring are safe are compromising investigations of illegal acts. Without these messages, it is likely that the police will not be able to convict their suspects of the crimes they may have committed. This goes back to incomplete information in the market as firms currently are withholding pertinent information from the police. Personally, I think under these circumstances the firms should give the information to the police as it would aid in their investigation.
While I believe that confidential information of customer's should be protected, I think that if the government has a reasonable belief and sufficient suspicion or evidence to believe that an individual has been involved in a crime, then the company should hand over the information needed. I am not sure if it already exists, but there should be some sort of term/condition that customer's agree to within a contract that gives the company permission to release certain private information for the purposes of a criminal investigation. Would this inhibit their customer's trust in the company? I am not sure. Microsoft and Apple seem to be large enough companies that it might not make too much of a difference. Privacy is an important right of citizens, but at what point can/should that be breached for matters of security?
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