TECH giant Apple has strongly criticised a proposed Australian law that would force companies to provide access to encrypted data.
鈥淐riminals and terrorists鈥� may start their attacks by accessing just one person鈥檚 smartphone,鈥� said Apple in a letter to the Australian government. 鈥淚n the face of these threats, this is no time to weaken encryption.鈥�
The proposed bill鈥檚 public hearing is on 19 October, but Australia is not the first to attempt a clampdown on encryption. Law enforcement agencies and politicians around the world have long been calling for such measures, claiming it is essential to fight crime and terrorism. The UK鈥檚 prime minister, Theresa May, has repeatedly pressed the need for a ban on encryption.
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Computer scientists say there is no way to create 鈥渂ack doors鈥� for law enforcement without making devices more vulnerable to hackers, such as those who break into systems and demand a ransom to restore them.
This article appeared in print under the headline 鈥淎pple hits back at anti-encryption law鈥�
