To avoid a repeat of the January 6 controversy over deleted text messages, the Secret Service is considering disabling iMessage on work-issued iPhones, Politico reports. This ban on end-to-end encryption, if it comes to pass, would mean that phone carriers would be able to read SMS messages between Secret Service agents.
Earlier this month, the DHS inspector general told Congress that the Secret Service lost messages related to the January 6 riot at the Capitol. The texts were lost as the agency was installing a new device management platform that allows the agency to centrally manage devices and preserve data stored on employees’ phones.
However, the platform could not back up iMessages because they are encrypted and stored on the device, which is not the case for regular texts.
Following the revelation that the messages had been lost, the House Committee investigating the events of January 6 subpoenaed the agency for its records, with the leaders of the committee suggesting that the agency may have violated federal law by failing to preserve the messages....
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