The Early Edition: February 24, 2016
February 24, 2016
By ZOE CHAPMAN and MEGAN GRAHAM
Just Security
Before the start of business, Just Security provides a curated summary of up-to-the-minute developments at home and abroad. Here’s today’s news.
SURVEILLANCE, PRIVACY & TECHNOLOGY
Apple v. FBI. San Bernardino County prosecutors have contacted family members of the victims of the attack about joining the case against Apple. [Reuters’ Dan Levine and Rory Carroll]. Meanwhile, the Justice Department has requested that Apple assist it in unlocking a further nine iPhones. A lawyer for Apple has confirmed that it is resisting the requests in at least seven cases. [New York Times’ Eric Lichtblau and Joseph Goldstein]
The Senate Intelligence Committee is considering legislation that would oblige companies to unlock phones if ordered to do so by a court. The discussions were part of an ongoing effort to produce a bill that gives law enforcement improved access to encrypted data. [The Hill’s Cory Bennett]
“We should all take a deep breath and talk to each other, rather than use a lawsuit to circumvent the critical and necessary police discussions.” Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) has urged FBI Director James Comey to withdraw the order against Apple. [The Hill’s Cory Bennett]
Has encryption gone too far? The latest versions of the iPhone and other devices use encryption methods that the developers themselves cannot unlock. Security expert Bruce Schneier and Denise Zheng from the Center for Strategic and International Studies debate whether this level of security is actually needed. [New York Times] Daisuke Wakabayashi describes how Apple’s stance on data privacy has evolved over the past five years. [Wall Street Journal]
Italy’s foreign minister has asked for “clarifications” over the NSA’s secret monitoring of conversations between the Italian and Israeli prime ministers in 2010 and 2011. The US Ambassador to Italy has promised to address Italy’s concerns “immediately.” [The Hill’s Julian Hattem]
Former NSA director Michael Hayden’s memoir provides a fresh perspective on Stellarwind, the intelligence program that warrantlessly collected details of citizens’ communications. Hayden, who created the program in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, says previous accounts have been “over-dramatized” and that the program was both “lawful and useful.” [The Daily Beast’s Shane Harris]
“It could keep people out who are not a threat.” Concerns have been raised over tools being developed by the Department of Homeland Security that more robustly analyze the social media accounts of those applying for refugee status or seeking asylum in the US. The fear is that legitimate criticism of US foreign policy, or even having friends who are sympathetic toward terrorists, could expose applicants to “unwarranted scrutiny.” [New York Times’ Ron Nixon]