Reuters: Senators Close to Finishing Encryption Penalties Legislation

Reuters:

Technology companies could face civil penalties for refusing to comply with court orders to help investigators access encrypted data under draft legislation nearing completion in the U.S. Senate, sources familiar with continuing discussions told Reuters on Wednesday.

The long-awaited legislation from Senators Richard Burr and Dianne Feinstein, the top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, may be introduced as soon as next week, one of the sources said.

It would expose companies like Apple Inc, which is fighting a magistrate judge’s order to unlock an iPhone connected to the mass-shooting in San Bernardino, California, to contempt of court proceedings and related penalties, the source said.

Effectively, this law would outlaw encryption in products and services made by U.S. companies.

Feinstein will be 85 when she’s up for re-election in two years, and has strongly hinted she’s not going to run again.

★ Friday, 18 March 2016