On Wednesday, US Senator Ron Wyden vowed to protect America's basic freedoms and warned dangerous consequences if the US allows unchecked expansion of government surveillance.
According to Kit Guru, the legislation that is currently being pushed through is worrying Sen. Wyden. The legislation gives federal judges the ability to force companies to help authorities in accessing encrypted information. The said proposal was sponsored by Senators Dianne Feinstein and Richard Burr.
Sen. Wyden told Reuters after his speech at the RightsCon digital rights conference in San Francisco that weakening strong encryption puts at risk millions of Americans, communities, and families from one end of the country to another. When asked if he would block the expected legislation, the Oregon Democrat, said he would do anything within his power as a US senator to block any attempt that weakens strong encryption.
His statements followed high-stakes confrontation between Apple and the US Justice Department over a court order that the company should provide access to an iPhone which was used by one of the suspects in a deadly shooting rampage in San Bernardino last December. The government said in a statement last Monday that it has already unlocked the phone without Apple's assistance and dropped its legal action.
Eurasia Review reported that the Senator proposed a New Compact for Privacy and Security in the Digital Age to protect the fundamental rights of Americans. This includes overhauling the Third Part Doctrine to make clear that people will not lose their privacy rights; increasing transparency by holding at least three congressional hearings every year on the privacy impacts of surveillance laws; being on high alert for fresh attempts to undermine checks on government power; and protecting the strong encryption to safeguard private data.
Senator Wyden is known for his role in the successful fight to end a copyright bill four years ago which was opposed by Internet companies. The Senator is confident that the Americans can win this fight for security and liberty.
