Hasty Action on Encryption Could Threaten Americans’ Internet Security

Following Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr’s (R-N.C.) statement about bypassing Congress’ encryption commission, FreedomWorks Legislative Affairs Manager Josh Withrow commented:

“The Senate was designed to be a deliberative body that would resist reactionary lawmaking. The fact that lawmakers want to make sweeping changes to encryption standards with vast implications for American privacy without even studying the issue is a deeply troubling commentary on the ‘sound bite’ nature of modern politics.”

“Weakening encryption will not make us safer, but it will compromise our privacy and make our Internet commerce and communications more vulnerable to cyber attacks and identity thieves. It would be a mistake for the Senate to rush through this legislation without considering its full consequences.”

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