FBI director calls for greater police access to communications

Comey said his goal with the speech was to open a dialog about law enforcement access to communications, and several audience members pushed back against his call for more surveillance capabilities.

Asked about NSA surveillance, Comey said he understands why companies are marketing encryption tools. The push for privacy "comes from justifiable surprise on the part of the U.S. as to the extent and nature of the surveillance being conducted," he said. "I can understand people being freaked and surprised, but I've yet to see the rogue conduct, the lawless conduct, that people talk about."

However, the scope of some of the surveillance was "breathtaking" to people outside the law enforcement and intelligence communities, he added.

Other audience members questioned the international implications of increased law enforcement access to all communication tools. If U.S. law enforcement agencies demand access, so will other governments, said Greg Nojeim, senior counsel at digital rights group the Center for Democracy and Technology.

"If you're Apple, or you're selling Androids, you can't sell an NSA/FBI-ready phone in Europe," he said. "Are you expecting them to build two kinds of iPhones, two kinds of AndroidAndroid phones Are they going to have to build three or four or six kinds when other countries follow our lead" Alles zu Android auf CIO.de