Congressman with computer science degree: Encryption back-doors are ‘technologically stupid’ by Adrea Peterson.
Two tidbit from a must read story:
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“It is clear to me that creating a pathway for decryption only for good guys is technologically stupid,” said Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), who has a bachelor’s in computer science from Stanford University. “You just can’t do that.”…
Subcommittee Chair Will Hurd (R-Tex.), who also has a computer science degree and worked in information security after nearly a decade at the CIA, shared Lieu’s skepticism of the security of such back doors. As did Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Tex.), who asked the panel of witnesses to raise their hands if they thought it was possible to build a technically secure back-door — often mockingly called a “golden key” — into modern encryption systems.
None of them did — including Amy Hess, executive assistant director of the FBI’s Science and Technology Branch, and Daniel F. Conley, the district attorney for Suffolk County in Massachusetts. Conley at one point argued that companies like Apple are protecting “those who rape, defraud, assault, or even kill” with their encryption policies. (Lieu later said he took “great offense” at this comment, which he called a “fundamental misunderstanding of the problem.”)
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Since I am so quick to point out dumb things that members of Congress do or say, it’s only appropriate that I highlight when one or more of them does something right.
No promises you will be able to contact either representative, given the provincialism of members of Congress who communicate only with members of their own districts, but its worth a shot.
Washington, DC Office
415 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3976
Washington, DC Office
317 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4511
Cheer them on and send money if you can.