Not a friendly move by the Brits.
In the context of a grave crisis in the ‘special relationship’ between the US and the UK, a top House representative is warning the British government against ‘using sensitive backdoor technology’ to spy on Americans.
Yesterday (5), Donald J. Trump’s ally, Ohio Representative Jim Jordan, wrote to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood alerting her about a ‘lack of security cooperation’.
Jordan warned that Britain ‘may be using encryption to gain access to US citizens’ private data’.
The Telegraph reported:
“[Jordan] pointed to the UK’s Investigatory Powers Act 2016, which allows the government to issue secret orders known as ‘technical capability notices’.”
As the leader of the House judiciary committee, Jordan has led investigations into the activities of the FBI and US spy agencies – and now he is targeting the United Kingdom.
“The UK may be building ‘backdoors into their encrypted services’, he wrote to Ms. Mahmood.
US companies would be prohibited from informing anyone about these backdoors without the express permission of the Home Secretary.”
Jordan told Sir Christian Turner, the ambassador to the UK, that a US company who wanted to discuss a ‘technical capability notice’ with members of Congress, something that would require Mahmood’s permission.
Hellbound and Down 