Cybersecurity

White House explored ways to bypass smartphone encryption – memo

A leaked memo shows a White House working group explored ways for law enforcement to unlock encrypted smartphones. Among the ideas were separate encryption keys or spyware embedded in automatic software updates, according to the Washington Post.

The memo, drafted this summer by officials from law enforcement, intelligence, diplomatic and economic agencies, was created for eventual consideration by White House cabinet members.

The memo shows that four encryption-breaking methods explored by the working group were considered “technically feasible.”