Critics question ‘Five Eyes’ push to expand spies’ telecoms access

LONDON: Former government officials and privacy campaigners are questioning demands by “Five Eyes” security ministers that high-tech communications systems should remain accessible to spies and official investigators.

A meeting in London of security and law enforcement officials from the Five Eyes group expressed concern this week that high-tech companies were moving to “deliberately design their systems in a way that precludes any form of access to content, even in cases of the most serious crimes.”

The group comprises the U.S, Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.