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A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 23 october 2017
FBI couldn’t access nearly 7K devices because of encryption
By MICHAEL BALSAMO being unable to unlock
Associated Press and recover evidence
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The from cellphones and other
FBI hasn’t been able to re- devices seized from sus-
trieve data from more than pects even if they have a
half of the mobile devices it warrant, while technology
tried to access in less than companies have insisted
a year, FBI Director Chris- they must protect custom-
topher Wray said Sunday, ers’ digital privacy.
turning up the heat on a The long-simmering de-
debate between technol- bate was on display in
ogy companies and law 2016, when the Justice De-
enforcement officials trying partment tried to force Ap-
to recover encrypted com- ple to unlock an encrypted
munications. cellphone used by a gun-
In the first 11 months of the man in a terrorist attack in
fiscal year, federal agents San Bernardino, California.
were unable to access the The department eventually
content of more than 6,900 relented after the FBI said it
mobile devices, Wray said paid an unidentified ven-
in a speech at the Interna- dor who provided a tool to
tional Association of Chiefs unlock the phone and no
of Police conference in longer needed Apple’s as-
Philadelphia. FBI Director Christopher Wray speaks at the International Association of Chiefs of Police annual sistance, avoiding a court
“To put it mildly, this is a conference Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017, in Philadelphia. Wray said federal agents haven’t been able to showdown.
huge, huge problem,” retrieve data from more than half of the mobile devices they’ve tried to access in a year. The Justice Department
(AP Photo/Michael Balsamo) under President Donald
Wray said. “It impacts in- Trump has suggested it will
vestigations across the be aggressive in seeking
board — narcotics, human access to encrypted infor-
trafficking, counterterror- mation from technology
ism, counterintelligence, companies.
gangs, organized crime, But in a recent speech,
child exploitation.” Deputy Attorney General
The FBI and other law en- Rod Rosenstein stopped
forcement officials have short of saying exactly what
long complained about action it might take. q
Schumer:
White House must name a
Puerto Rico recovery chief
NEW YORK (AP) — Sen. response to Hurricane Ma-
Charles Schumer is urging ria has been mismanaged.
the White House to appoint At least 49 people have
a chief executive in charge been killed since Maria hit
of helping Puerto Rico re- Puerto Rico on Sept. 20
cover from the devastating and thousands have lost
effects of Hurricane Maria. their homes. Trump gave
The New York Democrat himself a “10” on Thursday
said Sunday that the “chief for his administration’s re-
executive of response and sponse to Puerto Rico.
recovery” would have a But Schumer said that 80
direct line to Republican percent of Puerto Ricans
President Donald Trump still lack electricity. He
and other federal and said “this is just unconscio-
Puerto Rican officials. nable and demands new
Schumer said the federal action.”q
