RISCS Co-Director, Mayank Varia’s Article “A Roadmap for Exceptional Access Research” Featured in Lawfare Magazine
The debate of encryption systems that provide End-to-End (E2E) protection versus the viability of Exceptional Access (EA) encryption systems is highlighted in this article in Lawfare magazine on Wednesday, December 5, 2018, written by BU Hariri Institute for Computing Faculty Fellow and RISCS Co-Director Mayank Varia. The article focuses on the recurring “crypto war” between technologists and government officials in their efforts to improve public safety. Furthermore, the politicization of the issue has led to bleak ramifications where the two sides have become polarized in their mentalities. Mayank Varia offers his views on the process of developing EA technology as a solution. In the article, he answers the following questions:
1) What are the benefits and risks of Exceptional Access?
2) What limits on access should EA guarantee?
3) What capabilities should Exceptional Access provide to law enforcement?
4) What is the path to a future with viable EA systems?
In the end, Mayank Varia concludes that these “crypto wars” are within the government’s power to address. Appropriating funds for research, providing knowledge about access mechanisms and imposing a moratorium on EA can restore trust where scientists can evolve EA prototypes.