Communications of the ACM
Cybersecurity Experts Debate Proper Response to Terrorism
Privacy advocates and cybersecurity experts are concerned about the potential for greater government access to private electronic communications.
Credit: Columbia News
The recent terror attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, CA, are spurring calls for more government access to people's electronic communications, but privacy advocates and many cybersecurity experts are concerned about that strategy.
"There are real tradeoffs here among security, law enforcement, privacy, innovation, and cybersecurity," says Columbia University professor Matthew Waxman, who co-chairs the Center for Cybersecurity at Columbia's Data Science Institute with Columbia computer science professor Steven Bellovin.
Bellovin says giving the government exceptional access would not reduce the threat of terrorism but rather would create new holes in computer security that others can exploit. He supports Congress setting conditions for government access to electronic communication, much as a search warrant is required for a wiretap.
Jason Healey, a senior research scholar at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs, says terrorists have always used whatever technology was available to get their message across and recruit new followers, and access to encrypted communications only works if you know who to listen to. Law enforcement must improve its surveillance efforts, and governments need to share information, Healey adds.
From Columbia News
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