The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on Monday entitled, “Deciphering the Debate Over Encryption: Industry and Law Enforcement Perspectives.”
Members weighed the benefits and vulnerabilities of strong encryption and the needs of law enforcement, with officials highlighting the obstacles encryption has created when narrowing down cyber criminals.
“This is a core issue of public safety and ethics and it requires a very thoughtful approach,” U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA), chairman of the subcommittee, said. “Access to secure technologies beyond the reach of law enforcement no longer requires coordination or sophistication. It is available to anyone and everyone. At the same time, however, as more of our lives become dependent on the internet and information technologies, the availability of widespread encryption is critical to our personal, economic, and national security. It is time to begin a new chapter in this battle, one which I hope can ultimately bring some resolution to the war.”
Among the speakers at the hearing was Captain Charles Cohen, commander of intelligence and investigative technologies for the Indiana State Police, who said that he had grave concerns that changes in technology will render his unit unfit to hunt down cyber criminals, including crimes against children.
Daniel Weitzner, principal research scientist at MIT’s computer science and technology lab, said that Congress could find constructive paths forward, but cautioned that careful analysis of specific cases must be adhered to.
The hearing comes as Congress weighs potential bills surrounding data encryption.