F.B.I. Challenges the Internet

The lead article in today’s New York Times, “U.S. is Working to Ease Wiretaps on the Internet,” describes a power grab by the F.B.I. to develop legislation that would manadate all Internet communications technologies to provide a methodology for wiretaps from a central hub.

The legislation is being vociferously challenged by Internet advocates who view it as an attack on the decentralized nature of the Internet and impossible to enforce due to the large number of foreign providers. It is also opposed because it will stifle innovation and the development of new devices; preoccupy engineers with wiretap capabilities instead of new features; and lead to the creation of holes that can be exploited by hackers.

The freedom enabled by the Internet has been under attack from other, more authoritarian societies for some time now. China continues to try to clamp down on the Internet, developing “fixes” for foreign companies to install to allow top-down monitoring. And Dubai recently clashed with Blackberry because its encrypted messages are difficult to intercept. How ironic would it be if the United States developed technology that enabled these governments to control their own citizenry?

You know what? I think the F.B.I. should adapt to the decentralized nature of the Internet just like the rest of us. They need to work around the Internet instead of imposing top-down control over it. They need to live with the decentralized capability, and new-found power, this technology gives to the average citizen and develop other law enforcement techniques instead of attacking one of the greatest developments for mankind since the printing press.