<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;font-size:16px"><div id="yui_3_18_1_1_1433907288507_492" style="margin-bottom: 1.1em; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.0000009536743px; line-height: 24.0000019073486px;" class="">By Richard Cowan</div><div class="" style="font-size: 11.5384635925293px; line-height: 17.3076953887939px; float: right; clear: right; margin: 0px 0px 1.1em 10px; max-width: 300px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="" style=""><div class="" id="mediacontentrelatedstory_container" style=""></div></div></div><div id="yui_3_18_1_1_1433907288507_351" style="margin-bottom: 1.1em; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.0000009536743px; line-height: 24.0000019073486px;" class="">WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As Washington weighs new cybersecurity steps amid a public backlash over mass surveillance, U.S. tech companies warned President Barack Obama not to weaken increasingly sophisticated encryption systems designed to protect consumers' privacy.</div><div id="yui_3_18_1_1_1433907288507_590" style="margin-bottom: 1.1em; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.0000009536743px; line-height: 24.0000019073486px;" class="">In a strongly worded letter to Obama on Monday, two industry associations for major software and hardware companies said, "We are opposed to any policy actions or measures that would undermine encryption as an available and effective tool."</div><div id="yui_3_18_1_1_1433907288507_591" style="margin-bottom: 1.1em; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.0000009536743px; line-height: 24.0000019073486px;" class="">The Information Technology Industry Council and the Software and Information Industry Association, representing tech giants, including Apple Inc, Google Inc, Facebook Inc, IBM and Microsoft Corp, fired the latest salvo in what is shaping up to be a long fight over government access into smart phones and other digital devices.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.1em; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.0000009536743px; line-height: 24.0000019073486px;" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433907336062_2709">Obama administration officials, led by the FBI, have pushed the companies to find ways to let law enforcement bypass encryption to investigate illegal activities, including terrorism threats, but not weaken it so that criminals and computer hackers could penetrate the defenses.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.1em; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.0000009536743px; line-height: 24.0000019073486px;" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433907336062_2710">So far, however, the White House has not spelled out specific regulatory or legislative steps it might seek.</div><div class="" style="margin-bottom: 10px; clear: right; float: right; margin-left: 10px; position: relative; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.0000009536743px; line-height: 24.0000019073486px;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433907336062_2671"><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/photos/u-president-barack-obama-holds-news-conference-conclusion-photo-112028145.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma" class="" data-uuid="d932b5b0-9df2-3f03-a523-86c6c9c65d98" data-pos="1" data-ylk="t1:a3;t2:ct-mod;t3:embd;sec:ct-mod;slk:expand;elm:img;elmt:ct;itc:1;g:1b8fcc45-6906-336a-b100-89f8e5f08a24;aid:d932b5b0-9df2-3f03-a523-86c6c9c65d98;ct:4;cpos:1;" title="U.S. President Barack Obama holds a news conference …" data-rapid_p="26" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(50, 79, 225); max-width: 300px; display: block; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; position: relative;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433907336062_2670"><div class="" style="position: relative;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433907336062_2669"><div class="" style="font-size: 13px; height: 199px; left: 0px; ; top: 0px; transition: background-color 0.24s linear; -webkit-transition: background-color 0.24s linear; width: 300px;"><span class="" style="zoom: 1; color: white; opacity: 0; ; -webkit-transition: opacity 0.24s linear; transition: opacity 0.24s linear; font-size: 15.6000003814697px; top: 5px; left: 5px; width: 270px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span class="" style="color: white; opacity: 0; ; -webkit-transition: opacity 0.24s linear; transition: opacity 0.24s linear; font-size: 15.6000003814697px; bottom: 5px; margin-left: 42px;">View gallery</span><span class="" style="padding: 0px; text-indent: -1000em; line-height: 0; width: 32px; height: 23px; cursor: pointer; ; z-index: 1; opacity: 0; transition: opacity 0.16s linear; -webkit-transition: opacity 0.16s linear; bottom: 5px; left: 5px; border-radius: 4px; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml;base64,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); background-color: rgb(50, 79, 225); background-size: cover; background-repeat: no-repeat;"></span></div></div></a><div class="" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0px auto; position: relative; box-sizing: border-box; color: gray; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16.5px; padding: 5px 5px 0px 0px; width: 300px;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433907336062_2672"><br></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.1em; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.0000009536743px; line-height: 24.0000019073486px;" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433907336062_2711">Some cybersecurity experts are skeptical that Congress will take legislative action to expand the administration's powers anytime soon, noting recent lopsided votes in the House of Representatives to rein in surveillance.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.1em; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.0000009536743px; line-height: 24.0000019073486px;" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433907336062_2712">White House spokesman Josh Earnest, responding to Reuters' inquiries, said the administration "firmly supports the development and robust adoption of strong encryption."</div><div id="yui_3_18_1_1_1433907288507_606" style="margin-bottom: 1.1em; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.0000009536743px; line-height: 24.0000019073486px;" class="">But he added there were concerns about "the use of encryption by terrorists and other criminals to conceal and enable crimes and other malicious activity."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.1em; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.0000009536743px; line-height: 24.0000019073486px;" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433907336062_2695">FBI'S INTENTIONS KEY</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.1em; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.0000009536743px; line-height: 24.0000019073486px;" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433907336062_2689">Kate Martin, director of the Center for National Security Studies, a civil liberties watchdog group, said, "The ultimate question is whether the FBI is going to seek legislation that would put limits on development of encryption tools."</div><div class="" style="margin-bottom: 10px; clear: right; float: right; margin-left: 10px; position: relative; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.0000009536743px; line-height: 24.0000019073486px;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433907336062_2644"><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/photos/apple-logos-adorn-exterior-moscone-west-building-first-photo-140945142--finance.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma" class="" data-uuid="0790b2fc-5541-362c-b2c2-1fdeeab57a5a" data-pos="2" data-ylk="t1:a3;t2:ct-mod;t3:embd;sec:ct-mod;slk:expand;elm:img;elmt:ct;itc:1;g:1b8fcc45-6906-336a-b100-89f8e5f08a24;aid:0790b2fc-5541-362c-b2c2-1fdeeab57a5a;ct:4;cpos:2;" title="Apple logos adorn the exterior of the Moscone West …" data-rapid_p="27" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(50, 79, 225); max-width: 300px; display: block; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; position: relative;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433907336062_2643"><div class="" style="position: relative;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433907336062_2642"><div class="" style="font-size: 13px; height: 198px; left: 0px; ; top: 0px; transition: background-color 0.24s linear; -webkit-transition: background-color 0.24s linear; width: 300px;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433907336062_2667"><span class="" style="zoom: 1; color: white; opacity: 0; ; -webkit-transition: opacity 0.24s linear; transition: opacity 0.24s linear; font-size: 15.6000003814697px; top: 5px; left: 5px; width: 270px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span class="" style="color: white; opacity: 0; ; -webkit-transition: opacity 0.24s linear; transition: opacity 0.24s linear; font-size: 15.6000003814697px; bottom: 5px; margin-left: 42px;">View gallery</span><span class="" style="padding: 0px; text-indent: -1000em; line-height: 0; width: 32px; height: 23px; cursor: pointer; ; z-index: 1; opacity: 0; transition: opacity 0.16s linear; -webkit-transition: opacity 0.16s linear; bottom: 5px; left: 5px; border-radius: 4px; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml;base64,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); background-color: rgb(50, 79, 225); background-size: cover; background-repeat: no-repeat;"></span></div></div></a><div class="" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0px auto; position: relative; box-sizing: border-box; color: gray; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16.5px; padding: 5px 5px 0px 0px; width: 300px;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433907336062_2645"><br></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.1em; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.0000009536743px; line-height: 24.0000019073486px;" class="">The Obama administration is in the midst of an internal debate on the matter. Martin said the recent naming of Ed Felten, a computer science and public affairs expert, as deputy U.S. chief technology officer was an indication that Obama "takes seriously the privacy concerns."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.1em; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.0000009536743px; line-height: 24.0000019073486px;" class="">But at the same time, she noted, "Technology, and especially the globalization of communications, has outpaced U.S. law."</div><div id="yui_3_18_1_1_1433907288507_836" style="margin-bottom: 1.1em; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.0000009536743px; line-height: 24.0000019073486px;" class="">The debate over whether there should be limits on encryption should include the question of whether there should be limits on when the government can lawfully get access to people's private information, Martin said.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.1em; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.0000009536743px; line-height: 24.0000019073486px;" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433907336062_2713">The industry letter to Obama also was sent to FBI Director James Comey, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, Attorney General Loretta Lynch and other Cabinet heads.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.1em; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.0000009536743px; line-height: 24.0000019073486px;" class="">Days earlier, the United States enacted legislation that will curtail the government's ability to scoop up huge volumes of data related to records of Americans' telephone calls.</div><div class="" style="margin-bottom: 10px; clear: right; float: right; margin-left: 10px; position: relative; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.0000009536743px; line-height: 24.0000019073486px;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433907336062_2610"><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/photos/fbi-seeks-keep-patriot-act-photo-174535022.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma" class="" data-uuid="0355f262-3658-369c-9b97-b79d62f204bf" data-pos="3" data-ylk="t1:a3;t2:ct-mod;t3:embd;sec:ct-mod;slk:expand;elm:img;elmt:ct;itc:1;g:1b8fcc45-6906-336a-b100-89f8e5f08a24;aid:0355f262-3658-369c-9b97-b79d62f204bf;ct:4;cpos:3;" title="A look at the expiring surveillance provisions" data-rapid_p="28" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(50, 79, 225); max-width: 300px; display: block; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; position: relative;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433907336062_2609"><div class="" style="position: relative;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433907336062_2608"><div class="" style="font-size: 13px; height: 200px; left: 0px; ; top: 0px; transition: background-color 0.24s linear; -webkit-transition: background-color 0.24s linear; width: 300px;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433907336062_2634"><span class="" style="zoom: 1; color: white; opacity: 0; ; -webkit-transition: opacity 0.24s linear; transition: opacity 0.24s linear; font-size: 15.6000003814697px; top: 5px; left: 5px; width: 270px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span class="" style="color: white; opacity: 0; ; -webkit-transition: opacity 0.24s linear; transition: opacity 0.24s linear; font-size: 15.6000003814697px; bottom: 5px; margin-left: 42px;">View gallery</span><span class="" style="padding: 0px; text-indent: -1000em; line-height: 0; width: 32px; height: 23px; cursor: pointer; ; z-index: 1; opacity: 0; transition: opacity 0.16s linear; -webkit-transition: opacity 0.16s linear; bottom: 5px; left: 5px; border-radius: 4px; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml;base64,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); background-color: rgb(50, 79, 225); background-size: cover; background-repeat: no-repeat;"></span></div></div></a><div class="" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0px auto; position: relative; box-sizing: border-box; color: gray; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16.5px; padding: 5px 5px 0px 0px; width: 300px;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433907336062_2630"><br></div></div><div id="yui_3_18_1_1_1433907288507_837" style="margin-bottom: 1.1em; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.0000009536743px; line-height: 24.0000019073486px;" class="">At the same time, Washington is being battered by computer hacks. Last week a massive breach was disclosed at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, with records of up to 4 million current and former federal employees possibly compromised.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.1em; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.0000009536743px; line-height: 24.0000019073486px;" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433907336062_2596">An explosion in government surveillance was an outgrowth of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States and was exposed by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.1em; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.0000009536743px; line-height: 24.0000019073486px;" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433907336062_2606">The industry groups noted that online commerce has flourished in part because consumers believed their payment information would be secure.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.1em; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.0000009536743px; line-height: 24.0000019073486px;" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433907336062_2640">"Consumer trust in digital products and services is an essential component enabling continued economic growth of the online marketplace," the industry wrote.</div><div id="yui_3_18_1_1_1433907288507_850" style="margin-bottom: 1.1em; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.0000009536743px; line-height: 24.0000019073486px;" class="">"Accordingly, we urge you not to pursue any policy or proposal that would require or encourage companies to weaken these technologies, including the weakening of encryption or creating encryption 'work-arounds'."</div><div id="yui_3_18_1_1_1433907288507_847" style="margin-bottom: 1.1em; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.0000009536743px; line-height: 24.0000019073486px;" dir="ltr" class="">(Additional reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Tom Brown)</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433907336062_2534" class="" style=""><br class="" style=""></div></div></body></html>