Can We all Block the NSA?

Hiding from government snooping may not be for everyone. Following disclosures from former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, companies and technologists are tinkering with ways to be “NSA-proof,” an often unprovable marketing term. But legal and technical issues make it difficult to spread such technology to the masses, Bruce Schneier, a computer-security luminary said.

“It will be really interesting to watch as we start building these privacy-enhanced services…how that’s reacted to by different governments,” Schneier said. “I don’t know if there’s a way to do it that will survive a legal onslaught.” As a slew of companies create new encrypted communications apps, many say they are using complex math that is impossible for the government, or even the company, to unscramble. Sure, a court in Virginia may force them to hand over your messages, but text would look something like, “Dy8tDrRIEhvezpMOBkpLonM,” and no one would have the key to decrypt it. The problem, Schneier notes, is that likely won’t work as a legal defense. “A judge will not understand: ‘I can’t do this. Math doesn’t allow it,’” he said. He expects a judge would respond, “Change the math.” Schneier added: “You can see the US government saying, ‘give us access or close down.’”