EU’s law enforcement agency Europol is the latest major entity setting its sights on preventing encryption, Reclaim the Net reports.
While Encryption is arguably the best available security and privacy feature for internet users, Europol is growing increasingly concerned about home routing and mobile encryption, arguing that it hampers the ability of law enforcement to investigate crimes.
The rationale for preventing encryption is that it stops the police and other relevant agencies from doing their job and catching criminals
Instead of presenting it as a useful security feature, Europol’s recent paper presents home routing as “a serious challenge for lawful interception.”
For those who are unfamiliar with the term, home routing encrypts data from a mobile device using the home network while roaming.
Europol argues that if home routing was prevented, they would have smooth access to internet traffic – improving their ability to investigate crimes.
Whilst Europol asks us to trust that it requires these powers to keep us safe, recent history tells a different story. Governments and international organisation often extend their powers beyond their legal limits. Many worry that these changes could heighten their ability to conduct mass surveillance.
Reclaim the Net also point out that agencies like Europol already have other mechanisms to investigate criminals. Europol can, for instance, conduct “voluntary cooperation” with providers outside the EU and can also issue a European Investigation Order (EIO).
However, these limited powers pale in comparison to the impact of breaking encryption – a change that would set up the infrastructure for mass surveillance.
Europol argues that “slow EIO replies” are currently damaging “urgent investigations.” It argues these changes are needed to improve the efficiency of its operations.
According to Reclaim The Net, Europol sets out two solutions to home routing encryption.
One involves disabling PET in home routing, while the other involves implementing a cross-border mechanism inside the EU where “interception requests are quickly processed by service providers.”
Tampering with encryption – in this case regarding home routing as a part of the privacy-enhancing technologies (PET) – raises serious concerns. In an age where communication and entrainment increasingly take place in the virtual realm, it allows governments easier access to our internet usage.
Although Europol and other agencies stress the necessity of these powers in preventing crime, they raise serious concerns regarding the security of long-taken for granted civil liberties.
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