Apple and Google urge rethink over access to encrypted phone data

Civil liberties activists held a rally against the surveillance of US citizens last January

Leading technology companies in America are urging Barack Obama not to make it easier for police to access encrypted phone data.

The likes of Apple and Google want the president to reject plans that could change smartphone security.

In a letter, seen by the Washington Post, the firms say they want the US to protect their right to privacy.

It's after a warning from law enforcement officers who say networks are now too secure.

Many agencies such as the FBI say they cannot break the new forms of encryption, even with a warrant allowing to do so, which could harm public safety in areas such as the surveillance of terrorists.

"Strong encryption is the cornerstone of the modern information economy's security," said the letter, signed by more than 140 tech companies, prominent technologists and civil society groups.

FBI director James Comey told reporters earlier this year that he didn't understand why companies would market a product that could put them beyond the law.

He said they supported the need for encryption but wanted officials to be able to get the access they needed.

"There's no doubt that all of us should care passionately about privacy, but we should also care passionately about protecting innocent people," he said.

James Comey has been FBI director since 2013 after taking over from Robert Mueller

Experts say the only way to give law officers that access would be to build a key to the services, or a backdoor, but say that would open them up to being hacked.

In January, David Cameron promised new laws to close the "safe spaces" used by suspected terrorists to communicate online with each other.

He said he'd increase the authorities' power to access both the details of communications and their content.

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