Uhm, I'm sorry, why does this apply only to encrypted messaging apps? What about people in cars? Isn't it about time police had a swift and reliable method to find out what car passengers say to each other? Do we really want to let terrorists and pedophiles use their cars as a safe haven, where they can say whatever they want, and the good guys are powerless to find out? Just recently a terrorist used a truck in an attack - wouldn't it aid police to know what he said while driving?
I also heard almost all terrorists and child molesters talk to others in their homes. There's many reports of terrorists getting together in someone's house to plot and exchange information. I think it's about time we gave the good guys the tools they need to find out what was said in a room. We wouldn't want to leave pedophiles and terrorists any safe havens, would we?
And don't worry about abuse - any time a police officer requires access to the recordings of microphones that will be mandatory in all cars and houses, a judge will have to approve the request, so the risk of abuse is minimal! Only privacy extremists would be against such common-sense precautions.
You jest, but your satirical examples are actually being floated for real. Exhibit A: let's ban cars because terrorists might use them to run over people.
I really wish we could debate things. On the one hand, I certainly see why the technology companies don't want to create "back doors" into their messaging services. That makes those services insecure and leaves their uses vulnerable to hackers and nefarious government agencies. On the other hand, if a government comes forth with a court-issued search warrant then it seems reasonable that technology companies should be able to assist - even if it's just metadata indicating who they were corresponding with and when (for a well-defined data range as specified in the warrant).
Everyone has legitimate concerns in this discussion but if we don't have this debate then I'm afraid governments are going to take the heavy-handed approach and create mandates serving their interests but none of ours.
I also heard almost all terrorists and child molesters talk to others in their homes. There's many reports of terrorists getting together in someone's house to plot and exchange information. I think it's about time we gave the good guys the tools they need to find out what was said in a room. We wouldn't want to leave pedophiles and terrorists any safe havens, would we?
And don't worry about abuse - any time a police officer requires access to the recordings of microphones that will be mandatory in all cars and houses, a judge will have to approve the request, so the risk of abuse is minimal! Only privacy extremists would be against such common-sense precautions.