Submitted by Tyler Durden on 02/18/2016 19:15 -0500  –  Zero Hedge

Seemingly angered at the temerity of Apple’s Tim Cook’s defense of individual’s privacy and security, Congress has escalated the ‘crypto-wars’ that are dividing Washington and Silcon Valley. In its most directly totalitarian move yet, WSJ reports that Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R., N.C.) is working on a proposal that would create criminal penalties for companies that don’t comply with court orders to decipher encrypted communications. It seems Edward Snowden was right, The FBI is creating a world where citizens rely on Apple to defend their right, rather than the other way around.

Liberty Blitzkrieg’s Mike Krieger provides some much-needed background in the escalation of the crypto-wars. The feds, and the FBI in particular, have been very vocal for a long time now about the desire to destroy strong encryption, i.e., the ability of citizens to communicate privately. A year ago, I wrote the following in the post, By Demanding Backdoors to Encryption, U.S. Government is Undermining Global Freedom and Security:… read more here