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Comment by girvo | Hacker News Reader

The reason that breaks down is that a backdoor to achieve this isn’t for that one case, it’s for everyone on the service (or easily made to be). It’s like getting permission to break every lock from a particular manufacturer, rather than permission to enter one particular home.

I know in this particular case they’ve said it’s for a singular mailbox. I’m curious how they achieve it.

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This is the same as the TSA lock in newly made luggage. In order for Americans to have their luggage inspected, the Europeans have to have a backdoor into their luggage.

Fortunately in Europe you can add a layer of security on top of that by adding new locks.

I mean when you think about it in the grand scheme of things luggage isn't secure anyway, you can just cut through the fabric and other materials if you're so inclined to steal someones belongings from their luggage.

That's true, but at least you'd have some evidence of tampering. If it's your data that is breached or your privacy invaded, you have no idea.

You can also just push a pen through the zipper to open it without leaving any evidence. Simply run both locked-together sliders back over the zipper to close it.

This sounds more like the analogy breaking down than illustrating a meaningful difference in scenarios. The police already /can/ break a lock from just about any manufacturer. They just break the door down and enter regardless of the phenomenal quality of the lock itself.

That’s exactly what I meant :)

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