Encryption is an integral part of the U.S. economy. It provides security for much of the nation’s commerce, both online and at physical locations. Encryption ensures that our most sensitive data stays private protecting patient health information, financial data, and every American who shops online.
The world has moved mobile with consumers expecting access to their most important data through the cloud. The smartphones and tablets we use must maintain the strongest security to keep our most sensitive, private data safe. In the $120 billion app economy, encryption provides the transaction security that allows companies to sell globally. App companies flourish in every state of the country because they can market their software to a global audience wherever there is an internet connection.
Any changes in policy addressing this technology must come from Congress. It’s unclear how to view these actions in any other way than that it is demanding a back door. The FBI’s demands would substantially undermine our best means of keeping critical data out of the hands of criminals and bad actors.