Sources are claiming that the White House has declined to support the long-debated encryption legislation. The bill will give judges clearer authority to order companies in helping and assisting the law enforcement agencies.
In a report by Fortune, the legislation will be helping judges to have more authority to order technology companies such as Apple in helping law enforcement to get access to encrypted data. Sources familiar with the matter claim that the Obama administration refuses to endorse or oppose the legislation that was led by Senator Richard Burr and Dianne Feinstein, the Republican chair and the top Democrat of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
This comes after President Barack Obama said last month that he support the efforts of the Department of Justice after they wanted to ensure encrypted devices to be legally unlocked, The Register reported. Obama did not comment, however, about the case brought about by the department wherein they ordered Apple to help them unlock the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino shooters, who killed 14 last December, just days after the Paris attacks.
The Department of Justice dropped the legal action against Apple last week as they said an outside party offered a way to hack the phone. Due to this, it has prompted new calls for a legislative solution to the encryption debate.
Burr is expected to introduce his legislation this week. Sources say that the White House has reviewed the legislation and offered feedback. If Burr will present the legislation, the White House is expected to offer minimal input, Reuters reported.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement last month that the Obama administration is skeptical of the lawmakers' ability to resolve the encryption debate. Also, the White House backed away last year from pursuing a legislation that would require technology firms in the U.S. to provide back door to access encrypted data.
Tech companies and civil liberties advocates have opposed the encryption legislation as well, noting that it will undermine security for everyone.
