ACLU Released Guide for Developers on How to Respond to Government Demands That Compromise Security

Home / News

ACLU Released Guide for Developers on How to Respond to Government Demands That Compromise Security

By CircleID Reporter
June 21, 2018, 4:13 pm PDT Views: 8,478 Add Comment

It is not uncommon for government agents to force technology companies to create or install malicious software in products in order to help them with surveillance. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has released a guide for developers that is intended to help preserve security and customers’ privacy. ACLU says: “The likelihood that government actors may attempt to force software makers to push out software updates that include malware designed to obtain data from targeted devices grows as more companies secure their users’ data with encryption. And, as companies close other technological loopholes, there will be increased pressure on law enforcement to find alternate vulnerabilities to exploit. ... You have the right to say no to requests that are not backed up by a court order. But by obtaining a court order demanding technical assistance, the government might try to compel you to install malware on a user’s machine as a software update that appears to be entirely ordinary, and that comes directly from you. You have a right to challenge these orders in court.”

By CircleID Reporter

CircleID’s internal staff reporting on news tips and developing stories. Do you have information the professional Internet community should be aware of? Contact us.

Visit Page

Filed Under

Comments

The Weekly Wrap

More and more professionals are choosing to publish critical posts on CircleID from all corners of the Internet industry. If you find it hard to keep up daily, consider subscribing to our weekly digest. We will provide you a convenient summary report once a week sent directly to your inbox. It's a quick and easy read.

I make a point of reading CircleID. There is no getting around the utility of knowing what thoughtful people are thinking and saying about our industry.

VINTON CERF
Co-designer of the TCP/IP Protocols & the Architecture of the Internet