Senate Intel Encryption Bill Could Come Next Week

Senators Richard Burr and Dianne Feinstein, the top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, have announced their plans to release a bill giving authorities access to encrypted data. The bill, which has grown in importance following the Apple vs FBI encryption feud, will “force companies to comply with court orders” when dealing with locked or encrypted devices. While the government has long claimed encryption is obstructing the fight against terrorism and other criminal investigations, privacy advocates and technology companies alike warn creating this backdoor to bypass encryption could have great consequences on personal privacy. This long-awaited bill has been passed to the White House Chief of Staff for review and its introduction to Congress depends on how fast they get the bill back. Nonetheless, the passage of this bill would certainly further the divide between tech companies, along with privacy advocates and the government.