Senate Encryption Bill Undermines U.S. Competitiveness and Information Security
June 24, 2020
Article Summary
Statement from Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, Consumer Technology Association (CTA)®, regarding the introduction of the “Lawful Access to Encrypted Data Act,” in the U.S. Senate.
The following statement is attributed to Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, Consumer Technology Association (CTA)®, regarding the introduction of the “Lawful Access to Encrypted Data Act,” in the U.S. Senate:
“Americans value their privacy and don’t want to see government take it away from them. That’s why we should be encouraging encryption, not weakening it. The Lawful Access to Encrypted Data Act, if enacted, would destroy the rightful belief of Americans that their conversations and information can stay protected. Weakening or banning encryption would throw open consumers’ and businesses' most private and personal information to bad actors—data thieves, cyber-scammers, foreign governments, terrorists and more.
“This bill would also hurt U.S. global competitiveness. Would you buy a phone that didn’t lock or conduct online banking knowing your transactions weren’t protected? Savvy customers would quickly abandon American products and services for more secure foreign competitors. The world saw the benefits of encryption firsthand, as lockdowns across the globe forced many to work from home — securing our vital information as we accessed remote health, work and education platforms.
“Encryption safeguards law-abiding Americans’ fundamental right to privacy — and we oppose attempts to legislate away this indispensable consumer protection.”
“Americans value their privacy and don’t want to see government take it away from them. That’s why we should be encouraging encryption, not weakening it. The Lawful Access to Encrypted Data Act, if enacted, would destroy the rightful belief of Americans that their conversations and information can stay protected. Weakening or banning encryption would throw open consumers’ and businesses' most private and personal information to bad actors—data thieves, cyber-scammers, foreign governments, terrorists and more.
“This bill would also hurt U.S. global competitiveness. Would you buy a phone that didn’t lock or conduct online banking knowing your transactions weren’t protected? Savvy customers would quickly abandon American products and services for more secure foreign competitors. The world saw the benefits of encryption firsthand, as lockdowns across the globe forced many to work from home — securing our vital information as we accessed remote health, work and education platforms.
“Encryption safeguards law-abiding Americans’ fundamental right to privacy — and we oppose attempts to legislate away this indispensable consumer protection.”