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You don’t have to make special edition phones. You just side load encryption apps, unless they’re going to lockdown all on-device testing of software. Also, th

You don’t have to make special edition phones. You just side load encryption apps, unless they’re going to lockdown all on-device testing of software. Also, they already make “special phones” for people in government: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sectéra_Secure_Module https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sectéra_Secure_Module

close04 6y ago
You didn't address the point or at least your answer is parallel to your original comment. What would "the wealthy and powerful" do that I can't? What encryption will they have exclusive access to? > the “elected ones” will keep using crypto because laws don’t typically apply to the wealthy and powerful. Sectéra phones/modules never made it outside of mandated government use because encryption (and security in general) only works if it's there on both ends and people want to use it. So pretty much the only option is with software on top of your smartphone of choice (like POTUS and the hardened Blackberry with encryption software on top). Already both presidents and presidential candidates alike repeatedly bypassed security measures in the interest of comfort and usability. In fewer words people want their iPhones (Samsungs? whatever) and they don't want to only talk to people who also have "the special phone", rather just a piece of software. So I can't really see how "the wealthy and powerful" would have exclusive access to that encryption and make any meaningful use of it. Good encryption options are like backdoor keys: once they're out there sooner or later everyone will have access to them.
- ksaj 6y ago
  This is correct. An colleague of mine used to brag about his "black phone" to the point of obnoxiousness. After one of his "look what I have!" spiels, I asked him to initiate an encrypted call with me. He couldn't, of course, because I don't have the same phone. Then I asked him who he knows that does have one, and requires him to use more security with them than for every other call he made every day. Ah, Nobody. Sylvia wrote a catchy song about her back in the early 80's.

close04 6y ago

You didn't address the point or at least your answer is parallel to your original comment. What would "the wealthy and powerful" do that I can't? What encryption will they have exclusive access to? > the “elected ones” will keep using crypto because laws don’t typically apply to the wealthy and powerful. Sectéra phones/modules never made it outside of mandated government use because encryption (and security in general) only works if it's there on both ends and people want to use it. So pretty much the only option is with software on top of your smartphone of choice (like POTUS and the hardened Blackberry with encryption software on top). Already both presidents and presidential candidates alike repeatedly bypassed security measures in the interest of comfort and usability. In fewer words people want their iPhones (Samsungs? whatever) and they don't want to only talk to people who also have "the special phone", rather just a piece of software. So I can't really see how "the wealthy and powerful" would have exclusive access to that encryption and make any meaningful use of it. Good encryption options are like backdoor keys: once they're out there sooner or later everyone will have access to them.

ksaj 6y ago
This is correct. An colleague of mine used to brag about his "black phone" to the point of obnoxiousness. After one of his "look what I have!" spiels, I asked him to initiate an encrypted call with me. He couldn't, of course, because I don't have the same phone. Then I asked him who he knows that does have one, and requires him to use more security with them than for every other call he made every day. Ah, Nobody. Sylvia wrote a catchy song about her back in the early 80's.