> Nor are we necessarily talking about the customized encryption used by large business enterprises to protect their operations. We are talking about consumer products and services such as messaging, smart phones, e-mail, and voice and data applications.
This is very naive. Just assume the scenario where a CEO or politician has a certain fetish that he/she rather would not like to be splattered over the front page of a national news paper. This person is likely going to use his personal email, phone, voice and data applications to indulge in this fetish. If there is a backdoor, it is almost guaranteed China, Russia or any other country will eventually break it and potentially use it for blackmail to get their hands on corporate or national secrets.
This is very naive. Just assume the scenario where a CEO or politician has a certain fetish that he/she rather would not like to be splattered over the front page of a national news paper. This person is likely going to use his personal email, phone, voice and data applications to indulge in this fetish. If there is a backdoor, it is almost guaranteed China, Russia or any other country will eventually break it and potentially use it for blackmail to get their hands on corporate or national secrets.