US Tech Industry Appeals to President Obama to Keep Hands Off Encryption

Top US tech companies are warning the Obama Administration against imposing new policies that the companies say would weaken increasingly sophisticated encryption systems designed to protect consumers' privacy. In a strongly worded letter to President Barack Obama, two industry associations representing major software and hardware companies said, "We are opposed to any policy actions or measures that would undermine encryption as an available and effective tool."

The Information Technology Industry Council and the Software and Information Industry Association, representing large tech companies, including Apple, Google, Facebook, IBM and Microsoft, fired the latest salvo in what could be a long fight over government access into smart phones and other digital devices. The industry letter to President Obama also was sent to FBI Director James Comey, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, Attorney General Loretta Lynch and other Cabinet heads.