The Department of Homeland Security has launched an effort to collaborate with the technology community, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to stop terrorist abuse of encryption tools.
DHS took action after House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) asked the department to establish an advisory board that will help address security risks from widely available encryption platforms, the committee said Tuesday.
He urged DHS to enlist experts from both the public and private sectors to develop methods to prevent terrorists from exploiting encrypted communications.
“I am pleased the department is taking action to bring together the key players to address this and related security issues so we can find ways to improve cooperation between law enforcement, national security communities, private industry and others,” McCaul noted.
The committee said in a 2016Â report that encryption technologies could hinder lawful access to electronic information and evidence deemed vital to the government’s national security efforts.
