The FBI is proposing an amendment to the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act that would require software companies to build a "backdoor" into any software that allows text, voice or video communication. If this type of law were put into effect, it would have the following negative consequences:

a. It would kill US competitiveness in the tech sector abroad making US product such as Google+ or Facebook undesirable for Europeans, Asians, or South Americans, causing a massive migration away from American tools and networks. When that happens, the FBI would have no access to backdoors—legitimate reason or not.

b. If American social media sites were to give the FBI backdoor access, that would simply prove a challenge to every would-be hacker to try to get into these sites.

c. Hackers worldwide would descend on the FBI website on a “search and destroy” mission. When one got through, that would be “the story” in news media around the world.

d. The US government would be legally responsible when data thieves hijack one of these backdoors and steal sensitive personal data. Lawsuits would abound. Is the US government willing to waste money on attorney fees defending the FBI?

e. Sec. 105 of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act states, “A telecommunications carrier shall ensure that any interception of communications or access to call-identifying information effected within its switching premises can be activated only in accordance with a court order or other lawful authorization and with the affirmative intervention of an individual officer or employee of the carrier acting in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Commission.”

Item e. above must be strictly enforced for any amendment that allows government surveillance.