New Encryption to Defend Against U.S. Spying

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The U.S. intelligence agencies’ activities are already infamous, although their depth and scope are not yet clear. According to a Microsoft researcher new encryption tools may force intelligence agencies to limit their monitoring activities – their databases and search tools will become more “polite”, so to speak.

Seni Kamara, a researcher for Microsoft’s research labs in Redmond, Washington, designed a new encryption tool called MetaCrypt. MetaCrypt will allow analysts to scan through telephony records while avoiding unnecessary leaks or breaches of privacy.

The new system is a series of encryption protocols capable of securing information in various databases. These protocols limit the options in which the data can be used, so that search results will include only information that is actually required by intelligence personnel, nothing more.

iHLS – Israel Homeland Security

Agencies, for example, might look for a specific phone number the require for an investigation. In response to their query agency analysts will receive information on incoming and outgoing calls made – that information, protected by MetaCrypt, can’t be accessed by others who “happen” to intercept it.

According to experts from the U.S. intelligence community Kamara’s ideas are not likely to be received with open arms. It seems like American intelligence agents will never willingly limit themselves, despite the public outrage over their activities.

Source: Technology Review