Former U.S. Intelligence Director Favors Encryption
End-to-end encryption has gained an unexpected ally: General Michael Hayden, whose has served as Director of the National Security Agency, Director of National Intelligence, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. In a speech, Hayden said that he disagrees with FBI Director James Comey, who has led the charge against encryption, adding “I actually think end-to-end encryption is good for America.” Hayden went on to say, “When was the last time you saw the success of legislation designed to prevent technological progress? It’s just not gonna happen.” Hayden’s support for encryption is an interesting twist that undermines the Obama administration’s argument, since Hayden isn’t exactly a champion of civil liberties: he once told reporters that the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution does not contain the phrase “probable cause” (it does).
Thanks for this article. I'd like to see more, not "because political," but because the issue affects all of us who use any kind of computer, or send or receive confidential or personal financial data. It's not reasonable to expect business or individuals to exchange private information in plain-text or any format that can readily be hacked. ~~ Alex
I agree with Alex--more articles on the "encryption war," along with related security and privacy issues, would be greatly appreciated. These concerns are non-partisan, cutting across party lines, and it's vital that as many Americans as possible become familiar with the discussions, and express their thoughts to their elected representatives.
Michael Hayden also was the Director of the CIA. Having run both the NSA and the CIA, Hayden certainly has a valid opinion based on first-hand knowledge.
And when I looked him up, I found that he was also the Director of National Intelligence. Definitely someone who knows what he's talking about.