FBI’s Comey takes a shot at Apple, Google

Jose Luis Magana | AP Photo

FBI Director James Comey speaks about the impact of technology on law enforcement, Oct. 16, 2014, at Brookings Institution in Washington.

FBI Director James Comey publicly rebuked two of America's most prominent technology companies in a speech on encryption in Washington on Thursday, arguing that Apple and Google are potentially creating "a black hole for law enforcement."

At issue is the announcement by the two companies that new operating systems will encrypt data by defaultmeaning that Apple and Google could not respond to a legal warrant for access to a suspect's phone because they would not be able to break the encryption.

In remarks that were open to the public at the Brookings Institution, Comey said the heightened encryption is going to cause problems for the FBI as it tracks down criminals and terrorists.

"Both companies are run by good people, responding to what they perceive is a market demand," Comey said. "But the place they are leading us is one we shouldn't go to without careful thought and debate as a country."

Encryption, he said, "threatens to lead us all to a very dark place."

Read MoreGoogle discloses Web encryption vulnerability

Comey acknowledged that the companies are acting in the wake of the Edward Snowden disclosures about U.S. government spying by offering customers phones that will be resistant to the government's efforts to access data.

"Perhaps it's time to suggest that the post-Snowden pendulum has swung too far in one directionin a direction of fear and mistrust," Comey said. "Are we so mistrustful of governmentand of law enforcementthat we are willing to let bad guys walk away?"

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FBI's Comey takes a shot at Apple, Google