A letter, signed by over 140 tech companies, security experts, and civil society groups, was organized by the Open Technology Institute at the New America Foundation. This letter highlights significant concerns regarding the potential negative impacts of any form of vulnerability mandate.
These concerns extend beyond cybersecurity; they also encompass economic security. The letter emphasizes that such mandates could severely erode trust in U.S. companies on an international scale, following recent disclosures about NSA surveillance programs.
The letter was issued after the End Warrantless Surveillance of Americans Act (H.R. 2233) was introduced in May 2015. This bill aims to enhance privacy protections and bolster internet security by eliminating backdoors that allow unauthorized access to personal data and devices.
