RightsCon Tunis 2019

Legislation in Australia, the UK and other countries enables authorities to compel communications service providers to assist with government hacking, also known as “equipment interference” and “remote computer access.” These assistance mandates often come with gag orders that bar the company from disclosing the actions it was compelled to take, stifling public debate about them.  What kind of conduct might be considered “government hacking” and in what circumstances can it be justified?    

Many have expressed concern that some government hacking techniques could undermine trust on the Internet and impact innocent people who are not even targets of the government. More than 100 companies including Microsoft, Cisco, and Cloudflare, signed the Cybersecurity Tech Accord, pledging that they would not help any government mount a cyberattack against innocent civilians and enterprises from anywhere, including their home countries. This may create a clash with government hacking assistance mandates. What is it reasonable for users to expect of companies when it comes to resisting government hacking? Are such accords sufficient, or does legislation need to be adopted to rein in government hacking?

Come join a stimulating discussion about government hacking and what it could mean for you.