House Adopts Amendment to Bar NSA From Meddling With Encryption Standards

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The measure was inserted into a defense appropriations bill and approved on a voice vote.

The measure was inserted into a defense appropriations bill and approved on a voice vote.

by Justin Elliott ProPublica, June 20, 2014, 12:17 p.m.

ProPublica investigates the threats to privacy in an era of cellphones, data mining and cyberwar.

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An amendment designed to bar the National Security Agency from undermining encryption standards was approved by the House last night.

The move follows reporting last year by ProPublica, the Guardian, and the New York Times on the NSA's efforts to weaken encryption, including by influencing the development of standards by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The stories were based on documents provided by Edward Snowden.

The amendment, sponsored by Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) and similar to one he advanced last month, bars the NSA from using appropriation funds to consult with NIST in a way that undermines security standards.

It still has a way to go before becoming law: While the House is expected today to approve the full appropriations bill that the amendment is a part of, the Senate would have to pass the same text, and ultimately President Obama would have to approve.

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House Adopts Amendment to Bar NSA From Meddling With Encryption Standards