FBI director slams Apple over iPhone encryption

FBI director James Comey says he doesn't understand why Apple and others are making devices that allow people to place themselves beyond the law. Photo: Reuters

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."

Hard to crack: The new iPhone 6. Photo: Daniel Munoz/Fairfax Media via Getty Images

Mr Comey added that FBI officials already have made initial contact with the two companies, which announced their new smartphone encryption initiatives last week. He said he could not understand why companies would "market something expressly to allow people to place themselves beyond the law".

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Mr Comey's remarks followed news last week that Apple's latest mobile operating system, iOS 8, is so thoroughly encrypted that the company is unable to unlock iPhones or iPads for police. Google,meanwhile, is moving to an automatic form of encryption for its newest version of Android operating system that the company also will not be able to unlock, though it will take longer for that new featureto reach most consumers.

Both companies, contacted on Thursday afternoon in the United States, declined to offer immediate reaction to Mr Comey's comments.

The FBI is unhappy with Apple iPhone encryption levels. Photo: Mark Lennihan.

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FBI director slams Apple over iPhone encryption