Encryption protects information stored on smartphones, laptops, and other devices - in some cases by default. Encrypted communications are provided by widely used computing devices and services - such as smartphones, laptops, and messaging applications - that are used by hundreds of millions of users. Individuals, organizations, and governments rely on encryption to counter threats from a wide range of actors, including unsophisticated and sophisticated criminals, foreign intelligence agencies, and repressive governments. Encryption on its own does not solve the challenge of providing effective security for data and systems, but it is an important tool.
At the same time, encryption is relied on by criminals to avoid investigation and prosecution, including criminals who may unknowingly benefit from default settings as well as those who deliberately use encryption. Thus, encryption complicates law enforcement and intelligence investigations. When communications are encrypted "end-to-end," intercepted messages cannot be understood. When a smartphone is locked and encrypted, the contents cannot be read if the phone is seized by investigators.
Decrypting the Encryption Debate reviews how encryption is used, including its applications to cybersecurity; its role in protecting privacy and civil liberties; the needs of law enforcement and the intelligence community for information; technical and policy options for accessing plaintext; and the international landscape. This book describes the context in which decisions about providing authorized government agencies access to the plaintext version of encrypted information would be made and identifies and characterizes possible mechanisms and alternative means of obtaining information.
Table of Contents |
skim chapter | |
|---|---|---|
| Front Matter | i-xiv | |
| Summary | 1-4 | |
| 1 Introduction | 5-13 | |
| 2 Encryption and Its Applications | 14-31 | |
| 3 The Role of Encryption in Protecting Privacy and Civil Liberties | 32-35 | |
| 4 Information Needs of Law Enforcement and the Intelligence Community | 36-48 | |
| 5 Options for Accessing Plaintext | 49-77 | |
| 6 International Dimensions | 78-82 | |
| 7 A Framework for Evaluating Approaches to Access Plaintext | 83-94 | |
| Appendix A Biographies of Committee Members | 95-102 | |
| Appendix B Briefers to the Committee | 103-104 | |
The National Academies Press and the Transportation Research Board have partnered with Copyright Clearance Center to offer a variety of options for reusing our content. You may request permission to:
For most Academic and Educational uses no royalties will be charged although you are required to obtain a license and comply with the license terms and conditions.
For information on how to request permission to translate our work and for any other rights related query please click here.
For questions about using the Copyright.com service, please contact:
Copyright Clearance Center
22 Rosewood Drive
Danvers, MA 01923
Tel (toll free): 855/239-3415 (select option 1)
E-mail: info@copyright.com
Web: https://www.copyright.com
Loading stats for Decrypting the Encryption Debate: A Framework for Decision Makers...
Finding similar items...
