End-to-end encryption – The case for a backdoor, CurePrivacy

If encryption is outlawed, only outlaws will have encryption. And it won't be hard to find. You can't put the genie back in the bottle.

Bad guys and "I love my country but fear my government" are pretty strong counter-arguments to the ideas in this article. The comparison to a physical search falls pretty flat, IMO, because of the secrecy digital searches allow.

Having worked in security for years I can say that almost no one attacks encryption. The fruitful attacks are on the channel and the endpoints. Watch metadata, compromise the endpoints, use the xkcd wrench, follow the money.

Why attack the front door when there is a picture window beside it? Don't attack the tank, attack the fuel supply. The frontal attack is only there to pin the opposition while you compromise the flanks.

Backdoor encryption is security theater. Which raises the question "What is the real goal?". Is the goal to say "We don't know what you did but you encrypted it so we can lock you up."? Then you can fake "encrypted communication" from anyone to anyone and lock up anyone you want until they provide "the key" they don't know. Torture them for the key. Then try them in a show court and hang them.

The lack of good mathematical education is showing.