Amazon will allow encryption after removing it
By Bianca Buono
@BBuonoABC6
Amazon is changing its mind when it comes to privacy. The company had removed the ability to encrypt, or protect, personal data back in September but is now reversing course.
"Encryption secures that data is protected and it’s unreadable if there’s someone that gets inside of a network and tries to steal customer data,” said U.S. Congressman Jim Langevin, who has a seat on the House Committee on Homeland Security.
Amazon is one of 15 companies that have officially backed Apple in its fight with the FBI, supporting impenetrable encryption; but we are now learning that back in September, the company removed encryption from its Fire tablets, leaving the public to question what the company’s stance on privacy is.
"That weakens cybersecurity as far as I’m concerned,” Langevin said.
After receiving major backlash, Amazon’s spokesperson announced Friday that the company has changed its mind and will allow customers to once again encrypt locally stored data.
"I believe that companies have a strong responsibility to protect customer data so that an unauthorized user can’t make use of that data,” Langevin said.
But the battle continues between Apple and the FBI over whether or not the company should unlock the iPhone used by one of the terrorists in December’s San Bernardino attack.
The FBI wants to search the phone for clues but Apple says creating the software to unlock one phone could put the security of millions of others at risk.
"We’ve got to try to solve this and it’s going to be a discussion that everybody has to be at the table we have to really think this thing through really carefully so we can come up with the best possible solution,” said Langevin.
Amazon’s spokesperson says an update will be available this spring which will include a full encryption option.
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