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Beyond Secrets: The Consumer Stake in the Encryption Debate

Tags: 2010s Backdoors Economic Impact Emergency Communications Healthcare Mobile Primer

Published: December 2017

URL: https://advocacy.consumerreports.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Beyond-Secrets-12.21.17-FINAL.pdf

Abstract: On December 21, 2017, ConsumersUnion and Upturn released this paper on consumers’ stake in the encryption debate. The paper begins with information on cryptography: what it is and how it works. It then discusses the ways in which encryption benefits consumers, including: protecting their health information, safeguarding their financial well-being, facilitating sale software updates, ensuring physical safety, and allowing consumers to communicate with confidence. The purpose of this paper is to educate consumers about the many ways that encryption benefits consumers and the systems and infrastructure consumers rely upon, and the potential costs if encryption were to be compromised. It also seeks to focus the continuing debate regarding civil liberties, national security, and “backdoors” on the value of encryption to everyday private and public life.