In the latest SXSW that took place amid the "clash" between Apple and the FBI over the unlocking of a terrorist's iPhone (San Bernardino), US President Barack Obama comes to tell us in a few words: leave what you know and do what the people want Federal.
Speaking at SXSW in Austin, Texas, the President of the United States said that phones and computers could not be the unbreakable "black boxes", and that the "authoritarian" view of encryption could not circumvent the laws and the courts.
Obama spoke with Texas Tribune reporter Evan Smith about current encryption but admitted that his stance boils down to “I'm not a technical expert, but let's not be so absolute about this 'backdoor key.'”
Of course, the President and his staff, US military facilities, government agencies and intelligence services can use the most powerful encryption.
So Barack Obama, after hiding his fully encrypted device, gave his own approach to finding a compromise between prosecutors and companies technology:
People accept body scans at airports, which obviously prevents terrorism, so why can not they move less safely on their mobiles?
"Each of us walks with a Swiss bank account in our pocket. So there must be some concession to get this information into our pocket…. On the other hand, from an encryption point of view, they claim that any key, even if it was made to be used on only one device, could be used on any device. ”
"The fetishization of our mobile phones can not be above any other value."
"We can not have an absolute view on this issue."
“Before smartphones were invented ... if there was possible suspicion of child abduction or involvement in a terrorist plot, law enforcement could show up at your doorstep with a warrant to search home you for evidence data. "
Mr. Barack Obama, who is nearing the end of his presidency, has probably admitted some truths and with his oath seems to have given invalid examples. Like the last one with "before smartphones were invented."
Where does he live? Probably he knows very well how he lives, but his wisdom was for the public. So he probably thinks we do not know where we live, underestimating our intelligence.
Apart from the fact that it is not illegal to have (we do not have) a Swiss bank account in our pocket, in part Mr Obama admitted that he wants technology companies to create keys for law enforcement. While at the same time admitted (above) that this would harm safety.
What the US leader does not seem to understand is that: many privacy experts argue that creating backdoors, even if they are intended for a particular use, is tantamount to creating a security flaw.
While Obama acknowledged that it was "technically true" that such keys endangered devices, he insisted that the risk "has been magnified."
