Consumers of computers, smart phones and other digital devices are increasingly demanding more security and privacy of their data causing manufacturers to build stronger encryption and a host of utilities that can hide or wipe out evidence of a user's activities. While these security mechanisms help protect privacy, they can also be used to obfuscate the trail of evidence created by malicious activities, making forensic analysis difficult or impossible.
The question here is whether something can or should be done to change this trend. Consider the following:
1. Is there a way to balance the individual's need for privacy with the need to investigate crimes and provide for national security?
2. Do manufacturers of electronic devices have a duty to create mechanisms that can be used by law enforcement/government to circumvent security on their products?
3. Does the government have a legitimate interest in regulating these devices or at least the security mechanisms in place on them?