Today, the EU Innovation Hub for Internal Security publishes its first report on encryption. The report highlights the importance of recognising the benefits of encryption for privacy, while acknowledging the challenges this technology poses in the fight against serious organised crime and terrorism. The aim is to promote a constructive discussion on encryption and to find a balanced solution to protect individuals and society from malicious actors.
The report has been prepared in cooperation with Europol, Eurojust, eu-LISA, the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator and the European Commission's Directorates-General Joint Research Centre (DG JRC) and Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME).
Data protection is at the core of eu-LISA's mandate and as such an absolute priority for the Agency. In this area, data encryption plays a key role in providing an extra layer of security for the sensitive information managed by the Agency. For this reason, eu-LISA is proud to have contributed to the first encryption report of the EU Innovation Hub, together with other members of the Hub. The report also highlights the important role of the EU Innovation Hub for the internal security community.
Among other contributions to the EU Innovation Hub's first encryption report, eu-LISA is the lead author of the section on biometric encryption, which provides a general overview of the current state of the art in biometric template protection approaches, one of the most researched topics in the field of biometric recognition today.
Key findings from the report include:
- The necessity of establishing legal frameworks for lawful access to data and the use of encrypted communications in judicial proceedings to strike a balance between privacy and security.
- The need for continued research and monitoring on cryptography-related technologies, such as telecommunications (5G, 6G networks), biometrics, DNS, blockchain, and quantum computing, to ensure both lawful access to data and privacy.
- The importance of collaboration with academia and private industry in developing new tools to aid law enforcement investigations without compromising overall communication security.
- The dual role of artificial intelligence solutions in supporting and challenging law enforcement efforts against serious and organised crime, necessitating a multifaceted and collaborative approach.
- The potential of quantum computing to enhance investigations, alongside its threat to encryption, requiring a swift transition to post-quantum cryptography.
For more information on the report and its findings, please visit the Publications - Reports section of our website.
