J. Edgar must surely be smiling.
FBI director slams Apple over iPhone encryption
FBI director James Comey sharply criticised Apple and Google on Thursday for developing forms of smartphone encryption so secure that law enforcement officials cannot easily gain access to information stored on the devices - even when they have valid search warrants.
His comments were the most forceful yet from a top government official but echo a chorus of denunciation from law enforcement officials across the United States. Police have said that the ability to search photos, messages and web histories on smartphones is essential to solving a range of serious crimes, from murder to child pornography to attempted terrorist attacks.
"There will come a day when it will matter a great deal to the lives of people … that we will be able to gain access" to such devices, Mr Comey told reporters in a briefing. "I want to have that conversation [with companies responsible] before that day comes."
The FBI has never been overly troubled about trivial matters like search warrants. Now they are demanding that tech companies and consumers make it easy for them. Even if one is inclined to grant the possibility of legitimacy to the activities of law enforcement, weak security makes one vulnerable to hackers who are trying to steal information to inflict various forms of damage on consumers.
Google has also instituted new forms of encryption that have incurred the wrath of the Gmen. Oh for the days when they could just bug Al Capone's phone.