Ignorant Anti-Encryption Law Enforcement Groups Made A Logo And A Hashtag... And It All Backfired

Yesterday morning, things kicked off with a ridiculous tweet from the NY Police Department, announcing that it "stood with" the Manhattan DA in calling for "encryption" legislation. Of course, that's inaccurate. What it was really calling for was anti-encryption legislation.

Today, 11am at City Hall we stand with @ManhattanDA & advocates to call for encryption legislation. #UnlockJustice pic.twitter.com/hqjRxtAzYO

- NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) April 18, 2016

But, suddenly we discovered that not only was Manhattan District Attorney -- and proudly technologically ignorant -- Cyrus Vance continuing to push his dangerous anti-encryption views, but he had somehow created a hashtag and a logo for it (I've sent in a FOIA request to see how much tax payer dollars were spent on the logo, though I doubt I'll get a response). Vance held quite the grandstanding press conference over this, in which he repeated the same misleading claims as in the past about how horrible encryption is, and then trotted out some sob stories of cases where law enforcement failed to do their job, and then blamed it on encryption.

DA Vance: Crime victims are entitled to stronger protections than criminals #UnlockJustice pic.twitter.com/003FmSGwYn

- Cyrus Vance, Jr. (@ManhattanDA) April 18, 2016

You can watch the half-hour press conference below if you have the stomach for it:Of course, just about everything about this is ridiculous. It took place just a few days after Patrick O'Neill, over at the DailyDot, revealed some details of a FOIA request he'd made with Vance's office about all those cases he claimed he needed to get into phones for -- and found that, of the ones that were listed all had resulted in convictions anyway, even without getting into the phones. And most didn't appear to be for really serious crimes.

Meanwhile, as is often the case, an attempt by law enforcement to co-opt whatever "the kids these days" are doing by setting up a hashtag failed spectacularly. First off, Vance's office just happened to pick a hashtag that was already in use. Even worse, it was in use by the Quakers to push for criminal justice reform that would "start to reverse the failed 40-year 'war on drugs.' Ooops.

Then, of course, the folks who actually understand technology took the hashtag and ran with it, explaining why Vance's campaign was idiotic.

Remember: encryption protects the families of police too. If you break it, you put them at risk. #unlockJustice

- Keeper of Lore (@munin) April 18, 2016

Strong crypto prevents serious crimes like identity theft, stalking, sabotage and espionage. #UnlockJustice with strong security and crypto.

- matt blaze (@mattblaze) April 18, 2016

People deserve stronger protection than criminals. Default strong encryption protects civilians against muggers and thieves. #UnlockJustice

- the grugq (@thegrugq) April 18, 2016

iPhone encryption helps prevent theft, freeing up NYPD to investigate and solve other crimes. #UnlockJustice

- emptywheel (@emptywheel) April 18, 2016

Encryption protects the safety of those who have been abused by intimate partners or family members, even if the police don't #UnlockJustice

- Riana Pfefferkorn (@Riana_Crypto) April 18, 2016

And you're genuinely arguing that encryption wouldn't help protect victims of cybercrime? #unlockjustice pic.twitter.com/LhOzwh5zzk

- Jenna McLaughlin (@JennaMC_Laugh) April 18, 2016

Encryption protects me and my family from criminals who may steal our portable devices. #UnlockJustice

- Chris Wysopal (@WeldPond) April 18, 2016

Weakening everyone's security for the vague possibility of catching a few crooks is insanity. #UnlockJustice

- Bill Budington (@legind) April 18, 2016

In its quest for total surveillance over our lives, law enforcement is willing to empower criminals by weakening encryption #unlockjustice

- Daniel Nazer (@danielnazer) April 18, 2016

I don't trust people who still use fax machines with my sensitive data. #UnlockJustice

- Cathy Reisenwitz (@CathyReisenwitz) April 18, 2016

NYPD: We want New Yorkers to be more vulnerable to phone & identity theft, robbery, and data breaches #UnlockJustice https://t.co/KRkUZNobMb

- Trevor Timm (@trevortimm) April 18, 2016

Giving government authority over every intimate aspect of your private life is a wide gate to enslavement #UnlockJustice

- Jonathan Zdziarski (@JZdziarski) April 19, 2016

Legislate weak encryption and do a big favor for swindlers, identity thieves and nefarious foreign regimes. #UnlockJustice

- michael petricone (@mpetricone) April 19, 2016

After going through lots and lots of tweets, I have to admit that I couldn't find any -- outside of those from the DA's office and various law enforcement people that were actually supportive of the campaign. It really makes you wonder, just who does Cyrus Vance think he's protecting?

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