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Intelligence agencies must have decryption keys to apps to fight terror, says FSB chief

The FSB chief says the lack of access to encrypted messages that terrorists exchange through mobile apps significantly hinders efforts to prevent them from infiltrating the information space

MOSCOW, November 7. /TASS/. Intelligence services must have decryption keys for encrypted web applications, Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Director Alexander Bortnikov said at the 17th Meeting of Heads of Special Services, Security and Law Enforcement Agencies from FSB partner states.

"We believe that technology-wise, the lack of access by intelligence agencies to encrypted messages that terrorists exchange through mobile apps significantly hinders efforts to prevent them from infiltrating the information space," the FSB chief pointed out.

"In order to put an end to the uncontrolled use of such apps by terrorists, there is a need to establish a deposit system for decryption keys generated by mobile apps, which would be reliable and open to control," he suggested.

"It is only possible to develop common rules for using decryption keys and accessing them based on the law if intelligence agencies, mobile operators and telecommunication companies closely cooperate with each other," Bortnikov specified. "At the same time, as far as privacy goes, the rights and freedoms of law-abiding people must be fully respected," he stressed.