Law enforcement concerned over encrypted communications

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - While officials are using the most advanced technology out there to hunt down those responsible for the Paris attacks, technology could also be working in the terrorists favor. So much so that recently the head of the FBI joined French, British, and local officials to discuss the growing problem of scrambled or encrypted communications.

Some US officials believe it is likely the plotters of the Paris attacks had phones or other devices that could not be monitored by law enforcement. That use of technology prevents electronic eavesdropping and could be the answer to why the communication went unflagged.

FBI Director James Comey says when it comes to recruiting followers, ISIS is not so secretive. But while plotting a deadly attack like the ones in Paris, the group goes to great lengths to keep conversations private, a strategy known as going dark.

"If they find somebody who they think might kill on their behalf or might come and kill in the caliphate they move them to a mobile messaging app that's encrypted, and at the moment the needle we have been searching for, the entire nation to find and have found goes invisible to us, that is the going dark problem," said James Comey.

While DHS stresses there's currently no specific threat of a terror attack in the United States. Many admit looking at ways to increase synchronization between the feds and local law enforcement is critical to prevent another attack.

"It just changes the way you have to handle it from inner perimeters to outer perimeters, and magnetometers, and checkpoints," said Britt Johnson.

But not everyone's on board when it comes to new monitoring technology, as more security can often mean less privacy, especially when it comes to devices in the palm of your hand.

"The line between an individuals rights to privacy, and the legitimate needs of law enforcement to protect the public should not be drawn by private companies who make smart phones, they need to be drawn by legislators and courts," said Cyrus Vance.

Currently, there is a push to have cell phone companies make their encryption accessible if there is a search warrant, but critics warn privacy will suffer, and terrorists will likely just find other encryption software.