In the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris, some law enforcement officials have called for tools allowing them to circumvent encryption systems in cellphones used by suspected terrorists. However, the Information Technology Industry Council said Thursday that such a move could put the private data of innocent people at risk.

Most cellphones use encryption to protect user data. In recent days, U.S. intelligence officials have suggested tech companies work with them to create "backdoors" allowing them to bypass cellphone security systems, the news agency Reuters reported. They pointed out that encryption technology is becoming more sophisticated, making it harder for intelligence agencies to spy on the communications of suspected terrorists. http://reut.rs/1I3QfEN

The problem for ITI is the same backdoors used to spy on suspected terrorists could be exploited by hackers to access the data of other users. CEO Dean Garfield said that while his group appreciates the efforts of law enforcement to keep the country safe, what they were suggesting was the wrong approach.

"Encryption is a security tool we rely on every day to stop criminals from draining our bank accounts, to shield our cars and airplanes from being taken over by malicious hacks, and to otherwise preserve our security and safety," he said.

Creating vulnerabilities in cellphone encryption "would almost certainly cause serious physical and financial harm across our society and our economy," he added.

"Weakening security with the aim of advancing security simply does not make sense," Garfield said. http://bit.ly/1NgEfr9

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