Privacy or Security?: An Examination of the Ethical Implications of Encryption

The accessibility of digital encryption services has protected the personal information and data of many people, but also it has resulted in significant issues with law enforcement. These issues stem from the fact that encryption has become so advanced because of its computerization that encryption is virtually impossible to break. As a result, criminals are able to get away with their crimes because their communications are inaccessible by law enforcement. However, without encryption, criminals would still benefit because they are able to access everyone else’s data. Therefore, encryption is still essential to security and privacy despite its drawbacks.