NSA Director Offers Olive Branch in Silicon Valley Speech

PALO ALTO, Calif. The director of the National Security Agency said Monday that he understands why Silicon Valley companies have beefed up security to keep out government agencies, including his own.

The statement, during a speech by Adm. Michael Rogers at Stanford University, marked a small olive branch amid rising tension between technology companies and Washington following disclosures about the extent of electronic surveillance by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

Adm. Rogers said technology companies took steps to enhance encryption in order to assure consumers that their personal data is safe from prying government eyes. In addition, some companies felt embarrassed after slides leaked by Snowden suggested the companies had cooperated with U.S. spies.

Adm. Rogers, who took over the NSA in April, has been charged with repairing those relations.

In the most recent clash, Apple and Google in September said they would no longer be able to unlock smartphones, even if ordered by a court, for law enforcement. James Comey, the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Robert Hannigan, head of the U.K. equivalent of the NSA, said the moves are enabling criminals.

Im not one who jumps up and down and says either side is fundamentally wrong, Adm. Rogers said in response to a reporters question Monday. I understand what drives each side to their viewpoint.

Still, Adm. Rogers said he wondered if there might be some mechanism that would allow the government to circumvent the encryption schemes in special circumstances. It was unclear if he endorsed such a policy.

The NSA is trying to mend bridges in Silicon Valley partly out of necessity. The agency relies on young math and computer science experts to power its intelligence operation. Many of those techie kids go to Stanford and then work at technology companies.

Adm. Rogers, whose visit was part recruiting pitch, acknowledged he cant pay these students as much as Facebook or Twitter , but he can offer them something thats bigger than you are.

There are also the cool spy toys. Were going to give you the opportunity to do stuff you cant legally do anywhere else, he said.

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NSA Director Offers Olive Branch in Silicon Valley Speech