EU Pushing for Extended Search Capabilities to Access Encrypted Data
The EU has published it's "First report on encryption by the EU innovation hub for internal security".
The direction of travel is clear when it comes to crypto, Bitcoin, Layer 2s and ZKP. Here are some of the conclusions:
- Extended search capabilities and means for targeted lawful access
could be beneficial in capturing encrypted data.
- The wider debate on the use or introduction of alternative means of
bypassing encryption (e.g. client-side scanning) is another area that
deserves continued scrutiny.
- Cryptocurrencies continue to be popular with criminals for hiding their
transactions and laundering criminal proceeds. There are currently various
difficulties in finding the real identities of criminals, due to mixing services and
non-compliant exchanges. Moreover, criminal adoption of zero-knowledgeproofs and layer 2 applications will further complicate law enforcement efforts
to trace criminal funds. Collaboration with academia and private industry is
needed, so these trends can be monitored and novel tools can be created.
