Photo credit: arstechnica.com
The anticipated technology law is gaining momentum in Congress, moving at an unprecedented speed, though experts suggest this rapid progress may lead to imminent challenges in the judicial system.
Proponents are preparing for the possibility that any legal scrutiny could reveal deficiencies, potentially prompting legislative revisions. They are currently optimistic about the upcoming vote, hoping the law will withstand any legal hurdles that may arise soon after.
Debate Over Encryption Risks
During a recent press briefing organized by Americans for Responsible Innovation, Slade Bond, public policy chair at Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca, LLP, expressed his support for the law. He cautioned against allowing hesitation to hinder advancements in technology.
Bond, alongside other advocates, dismissed concerns that the legislation poses serious risks to encryption and online expression, labeling such fears as exaggerated.
Supporting this view, Adam Billen, vice president of public policy at Encode, countered allegations that the law’s ambiguous wording could compel companies to compromise encryption standards.
Billen forecasted that the majority of encrypted content would remain secure and noted that the law specifically pertains to publicly shared content on platforms designed for user-generated material. He asserted, “In our opinion, encryption should not be a focal issue under this legislation, and we have consistently opposed any proposals that would explicitly undermine encryption.”
Despite this interpretation, Daly from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) expressed a contrasting viewpoint. She stated, “We fundamentally disagree with that interpretation. The current draft, which is likely to advance, poses a genuine threat to encryption. While there are exceptions for email services, other forms of communication, like direct messages and cloud storage, lack such protections.”
Source
arstechnica.com