Identifying Research Approaches, Technologies, Options, and Tradeoffs for Encrypted Communications Access

美国国家科学院的这项研究考察了与向授权政府机构提供访问加密信息的明文版本的机制相关的权衡。这项研究描述了就这类机制作出决定的背景，并确定和描述了政府为执法或情报调查获取信息的可能机制和替代手段。它寻求找到衡量风险或以其他方式表征风险的方法，以便可以将它们与潜在的执法或情报利益进行权衡。这项研究并不是试图回答是否需要获取机制的问题，而是提供了对备选方案和权衡的权威性分析。该项目对提供获取加密信息的技术机制、获取所需信息的替代手段以及确定相关风险和收益的方式有了更细微的了解。它为政策讨论和辩论以及进一步探讨这一专题，包括今后的研究提供了基础。该项目侧重于当前公众讨论的一个主题，为技术和政策选择提供了一个客观的信息来源，从而向所有利益攸关方提供了信息。

This National Academies study examines the tradeoffs associated with mechanisms to provide authorized government agencies with access to the plaintext version of encrypted information. The study describes the context in which decisions about such mechanisms would be made and identifies and characterizes possible mechanisms and alternative means of obtaining information sought by the government for law enforcement or intelligence investigations. It seeks to find ways to measure or otherwise characterize risks so that they can be weighed against the potential law enforcement or intelligence benefits. The study does not seek to answer the question of whether access mechanisms should be required but rather provides an authoritative analysis of options and tradeoffs.The project yields a more nuanced understanding of technical mechanisms for providing access to encrypted information, alternative means of obtaining needed information, and ways of characterizing associated risks and benefits. It provides a basis for policy discussion and debate and for further exploration of the topic including future research. The project, which is focused on a topic of current public discussion, provides an objective source of information on technical and policy options and thus provides information to all stakeholders.