6.09 Impacts of CS: Cryptography and the Government

6.9 Impacts of CS: Cryptography and the Government Curriculum Page

Portfolio Reflection Questions:

1. What does it mean to say that the government would like to have a back door to the encrypted data on a mobile phone?

• When it is described that the government would like to have a back door to the encrypted data on mobile phones, it means that they would like to have easy access to all cell phones without needing credentials that the user knows.

2. What are the main legal and ethical reasons for letting the government have a back door?

• The main legal and ethical reasons for letting the government have a back door are that the government would be able to track and identify criminal activity/potential acts of terrorism and interrupt their behavior by gaining the data that is released from their use of technology (ie. cell phones).

3. What are the main legal and ethical reasons against letting the government have a back door?

• The main legal and ethical reasons against letting the government have a back door are that civilians should have privacy acts and not have these infringed upon by the government. In addition, once a back door is created, it's possible for any user on the internet to exploit it (other people can access it other than the government).

4. Do you think Apple should abide by the Court’s decision and unlock the mobile phone in the San Bernardino case? Explain.

• I think that Apple should abide by the court's decision and unlock the mobile phone in the San Bernadino case because it is an issue of national security and the benefits outweigh the negatives.