Heather Barlow shared this article. No argument against the commission, although I hope that it actually contains knowledgeable people who can explain why encryption with vulnerabilities is not encryption.

I do have problems with the article, which has the following inaccuracies:

1) the Paris attackers did not use encrypted communications; they sent plain-text SMS messages to each other.

2) It was the FBI’s own actions that prevented it from getting access to the data they’re now requesting the backdoor for.

3) It’s a law enforcement talking point, aiming for an emotional response, when they talk about “terrorists, murderers, and child molesters”; there is no reason to assume that law enforcement use of these tools will be limited in any way.

4) Even with an OS backdoor, there is no way to prevent people from using other forms of encryption which would continue to be secure; savvy criminals will still have encrypted communications, but it’s the everyday phone and computer user whose communications will be vulnerable. Senator Mark Warner