[newguy1234]

That's because there is a deeper agenda than just "protecting children". If you read the Edward Snowden book (permanent record) then you'll note that he talks about what the NSA/CIA is actually doing with their signals intelligence programs. It isn't about national security, it is about espionage on a global scale. They want information on what foreign governments, journalists, domestic organizations (not just terrorist groups as they claim) and corporations are doing. For domestic citizens, they want to know if you are a threat to the United States or violating laws.

The second strong end-to-end encryption is implemented, the whole system simply fails to operate. Instead of having a massive data collection system, you now have to go back to more traditional methods that require much more effort to implement - like hacking a target's computer directly. If that happens then the USA will lose its edge in terms of obtaining critical information and that will be a treat to their global dominance....hence the reason they mention national security. Of course, you can't just come out and say this is the reason so they mask it in "fighting sexual exploitation" etc.

The truth is end-to-end encryption and fighting sexual exploitation are not mutually exclusive. We can have both.

[x220]

>hence the reason they mention national security. Of course, you can't just come out and say this is the reason so they mask it in "fighting sexual exploitation"

And then all the intelligence employees come on HNews after 5 PM and bitch and moan about how we don't trust their agency's reports about its own conduct and activities...

[saagarjha]

> Instead of having a massive data collection system, you now have to go back to more traditional methods that require much more effort to implement - like hacking a target's computer directly.

Which is more amenable to accountability. Usually this requires a warrant or approval of some kind.

> If that happens then the USA will lose its edge in terms of obtaining critical information and that will be a treat to their global dominance

How does the US banning encryption help it on the global stage where other countries continue to encrypt their messages?

[Mirioron]

Because the US will pressure other countries to do the same thing. If enough countries agree then it'll be easier and easier to push it onto the rest.

[ffe44]

This sounds like what CIA should be doing, right? It's like saying that military has an agenda to build more aircraft carriers and control all movements in the open waters.

The only thing I wonder about is whether this encryption crisis is just a lazy attempt to preserve the no longer working espionage methods or it's a smart conspiracy of evil people to break the humanity: convince people that there is a child or whatever problem and convince them to build the 24/7 monitoring system. This way people would build a prison for themselves.