Wednesday, December 3, 2014

So which law gives the Feds the ability to force Apple and Google to decrypt smart phone data?

It dates to 1789:
The FBI has made it no secret that it hates Apple and Google's efforts to encrypt files in your smartphones and tablets.

Now court documents have emerged showing just how far the Feds are willing to go to decrypt citizens' data.

The paperwork has shown two cases where federal prosecutors have cited the All Writs Act – which was enacted in 1789 as part of the Judiciary Act – to force companies to decrypt information on gadgets.
Riiiiight.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

So the All Writs act negated the 4th Amendment?

I don't see how as the constitution was ratified in 1791 and would negate this act by time, if not the fact that it is the overarching document.

I wonder how much time we have until everyone recognizes this lawless state and acts appropriately?

Roy said...

The constitution was ratified and went into effect in 1788. By 1791, George Washington had been president for almost two years.

Weetabix said...

Living documents, and all that?

Unknown said...

My mistake.

Still, the rest of what I said applies.

Tam said...

Careful with claiming old laws don't apply to new situations. It seems I hear that line of attack used a lot under other circumstances.