Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Schiff Statement on Encryption Debate in Wake of Paris Attacks

Statement

Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement.

"While it remains too early to tell the role encrypted communications may have played in the devastating terrorist attacks in Paris, we do know that ISIS regularly instructs its operatives to use encrypted platforms precisely to help evade detection. These platforms are made overseas as well as in the U.S., and there are significant security, technological, economic and privacy issues involved in addressing the challenge posed to the intelligence community and law enforcement by encryption.

"That is why Chairman Nunes and I -- months before these horrific attacks -- requested that the National Academy of Sciences, an organization that two decades ago studied this very issue, produce an updated report that can help us to identify and design effective, technologically feasible and economically viable solutions to the increasingly dangerous problem known as 'going dark.' I am pleased that the Academy is proceeding with such a study, which will help inform policymakers and the public alike.

"Given the complexity involved in the encryption issue, no actions should be taken in haste by the Congress, and these attacks must not be used to justify a sweeping re-institution of surveillance powers that were just reformed only months ago after years of deliberation and debate. I still believe, as I did when we passed the bipartisan USA Freedom Act, that we need not sacrifice our liberty for security, and that we can, indeed must, have both."

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