It's an old and familiar story -- governments ask, often demand access to encrypted &/or private data or conversations. Recently the U.S. gov has been pushing, hard, for some way that they could have unrestricted access to whatever's stored encrypted on a device -- most of the arguments lately are focused on cell phones & tablets, since the new OS versions that run on those devices may now turn encryption on by default.
Up until now most governments have made do with laws that say basically that if the gov [courts, law enforcement etc.] requires you to unlock whatever, if you don't you face whatever penalties. To avoid the issue entirely of course criminals, terrorists etc. commonly use burner phones [over the counter prepaid] that they dispose of [destroy].
Regardless all that, the U.S. gov wants access, & has their PR machine turned up full blast in an attempt to influence public opinion, which would hopefully turn into pressure on lawmakers, or at least acceptance if the gov forced the issue. A well known roster of security experts, academics, & tech companies has been challenging that as loudly & publicly as possible, saying it's unfeasible, unworkable, & would lessen security for all.
The latest salvo is/was the FBI getting a judge to require Apple to assist in unencrypting a cell phone used by a confirmed, now dead terrorist. Apple is very publicly saying no. This is being written about online -- you'll likely come across at least some mention. Perhaps ironically, a site paid for by a Russian company, Kaspersky, has the 1st article I've seen that actually shows you a copy of the judge's orders. The articles I've read elsewhere ignore parts of that order, so in case you want to know what's what, here's the link. threatpost[.]com/apples-cook-opposes-court-order-to-hack-san-bernardino-shooters-phone/116274/
