U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James B. Comey expressed his concern on Thursday about the improved encryption of smartphones, which make devices so secure that law enforcement agencies cannot access information even if they have a search warrant.
Comey argued that the police should be able to search for internet browsing history, messages, and photos in smartphones as part of their investigation in crimes related to child pornography, terrorism, and murder. He explicitly criticized the encryption of Apple and Google smartphones, according to the Washington Post.
"There will come a day when it will matter a great deal to the lives of people . . . that we will be able to gain access" to mobile devices, Comey said. "I want to have that conversation [with companies responsible] before that day comes."
The federal agency is already in talks with the two companies on this matter. Both Google and Apple announced their newest encryption system for smartphones last week. The FBI director also stated that the encryptions provided by the two tech giants are enabling people to "place themselves beyond the law."
Apple and Google have not released any comment on Comey's concerns. Apple explained that the new encryption in its phones was not designed to help people evade the law, but to protect the device from security threats and intruders.
Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported that law enforcement agencies in Washington are setting up a meeting in Silicon Valley to for them to understand the technology.
"We are doing things that no longer make sense, that are no longer consistent with our commitment that we are a country of law where no one is beyond the law," Comey said.
Comey's disapproval followed the launch of Apple's newest operating system for mobile, iOS 8. The OS is equipped with encryption that police won't be able to bypass. Similarly, Google announced its plans to release a new version of encryption for its phones, a version so secure that the company itself won't be able to unlock it.
