Burr & Feinstein Officially Release Anti-Encryption Bill, As Wyden Promises To Filibuster It
from the and-off-we-go dept
Last week, we wrote about a "discussion draft" of Senators Richard Burr and Dianne Feinstein's new anti-encryption bill that would effectively require any company doing anything with encryption to make sure that encryption was flat out broken, putting everyone at risk. Feinstein and Burr's offices refused to comment on the criticism of the draft, insisting that they were still working on the bill. Well, late Wednesday Burr officially released a copy of the bill and it's basically the same insane bill we saw last week. As far as I can tell, the only real change is further defining what is meant by a "court order." It used to just say any court order, but now says only court orders for specific issues, but it's a pretty broad list: crimes involving serious bodily harm, foreign intelligence, espionage, terrorism, sexual exploitation of a minor, a "serious violent felony," or a serious drug crime. So, I guess we should feel relieved that it won't be used for cases where someone's caught trespassing or something? It's still a ridiculous bill (and it still doesn't explain what the penalties are).Meanwhile, Senator Ron Wyden has renewed his opposition to the bill by going a step further and promising to filibuster if the bill is brought to the floor:
“The encryption debate is about having more security or having less security. This legislation would effectively outlaw Americans from protecting themselves. It would ban the strongest types of encryption and undermine the foundation of cybersecurity for millions of Americans. This flawed bill would leave Americans more vulnerable to stalkers, identity thieves, foreign hackers and criminals. And yet it will not make us safer from terrorists or other threats. Bad actors will continue to have access to encryption, from hundreds of sources overseas. Furthermore, this bill will empower repressive regimes to enact similar laws and crack down on persecuted minorities around the world,” Wyden said.Stay tuned, because this fight is just beginning...
“Americans who value their security and liberty must join together to oppose this dangerous proposal. I intend to oppose this bill in committee and if it reaches the Senate floor, I will filibuster it.”
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: all writs act, backdoors, dianne feinstein, encryption, richard burr, ron wyden
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
It just did.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
What about bank fraud? Oh yeah, I forgot - that is perfectly legal activity. It certainly appears that way.
So, how does their list compare with other things that are a threat to our society today? Lets look at the top ten causes of death in this country .. hmmm, I do not see any of their listed items here - go figure.
Now look at the general consensus for the top ten issues facing this country today. Again, I do not see any of their listed items here.
Seems they are way out on a limb with their silly rationalizations, it makes them look ignorant and self serving. Many people think there are better things for their representatives to be working on. Maybe they will not be re-elected because of it, we will see - but I have little faith in those who are allowed to vote these days.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
.308 168gn otm @ 2750fps
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Hypocrisy at it's finest.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Hypocrisy at it's finest.
Will companies be held responsible for not bricking older hardware if the current possessors refuse to replace them ?
Is that not a "taking" of property without due process ?
How can Google keep me from encrypting a message before giving it to Gmail ?
Court orders cannot be all powerful. What order will resurrect the dead for example ?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Hypocrisy at it's finest.
Assuming this were to go forward, you could assume (I'd guess) 75-80% uptake/adoption in the next 10 years.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Hypocrisy at it's finest.
it's not just cloud services. On-prem/in-house crypto-solutions from any US provider would be subject to this legislation as well.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
You comment is an insult to idiots everywhere.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Give it time
Yet.
How many programs or laws were sold by claiming that they would only ever be used for stopping major crimes or threats like terrorism, and are now used for trivial crimes or just because they can be used?
You start with the big stuff, the stuff where it's hard for people to object against someone 'trying to do something', and then once you get the law on the books it's not 'if' but 'when' it will be expanded to cover the most minor stuff.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Give it time
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
A recent video on the subject
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPBH1eW28mo
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
Also, fuck off, PaulT.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re:
Some people are too stupid for even simple logic, I suppose.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sVVl2EKgUU
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re:
Sure sound like one.
Remember this space a few years from now when Wyden is running for the big office, and Mike Masnick is part of his campaign staff.
And? Really, why should any of us care to remember or this 'future' you seem to see?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re:
Why are you even here on a site you hate so much?
Oh, have you heard? Your precious FBI found nothing on the phone they demanded access to and failed to stop the unencrypted Brussels attacks. Owned, bitch!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Same as the anti-gunner crowd
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Same as the anti-gunner crowd
“The gun debate is about having more security or having less security. This legislation would effectively outlaw Americans from protecting themselves. It would ban the strongest types of defense and undermine the foundation of our 2nd amendment right for millions of Americans. This flawed bill would leave Americans more vulnerable to stalkers, thieves, rapists and criminals. And yet it will not make us safer from terrorists or other threats such as a tyrannical government. Bad actors will continue to have access to guns, from hundreds of sources overseas and south of the border. Furthermore, this bill will empower a repressive government to enact more tyrannical laws and crack down on persecuted minorities at home,” Wyden said.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
All it needs is a little logo
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Burr & Feinstein Approved!!!
...................,/¯../
.................../..../
............../´¯/'...'/´¯¯`·¸
........../'/.../..../......./¨¯\
..........('(...´...´.... ¯~/'...')
...........\.................'...../
............\.................. _.·´
.............\..............(
..............\.............\...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Burr & Feinstein Approved!!!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Here's some content...
First, read the whole of the US Constitution. Then, once that's done read the whole of the Bill of Rights and while you're at it, put emphasis on the parts of the Bill of Rights that the bill he's filibustering would threaten. And then finally, the book 1984 by George Orwell for just desserts.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Here's some content...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Here's some content...
I meant the reading of 1984 as a lesson on what NOT to do.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Burr & Feinstein have to earn their bribesXXXXXXcontributions
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
Essentially the Nazi's infiltrated and spent decades exposing various people to their ideas, and such ideas are coming home to roost.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
The Filibuster
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
1 - Wyden is concerned that if it gets to a vote that it would easily pass
2 - allowing real debate and real discussion on the subject would be contrary to the "message" from Wyden's internet based supporters, and
3 - a filibuster is in many ways the ultimate anti-democratic tool, where the minority (one person or a small group) disrupt the actions of the legally elected majority for their own benefit.
Wyden loves to grandstand, and this is a perfect example. It's right up his alley and plays well to his internet backers, including the Wyden2020PAC or whatever Mike will end up calling it! (yes, I am suggesting that Mike will work on Wyden's Presidential bid, either 2020 or 2024, mark it down!).
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]