Comment by graemep

Yes, detective work is possible. So are technological extensions to it. For example investigators being allowed (maybe requiring a warrant, or other appropriate controls) to crack the devices for people under investigation.

In fact, things like forcing Apple to backdoor its encryption will not be effective against any but stupid criminals (I admit many criminals are stupid, but the stupid ones are not the most dangerous ones). Once it is known that this can be done, smart criminals will just use other means of communication.

The aim of this is not to help investigate serious crime, it is mass surveillance to deal with things like what the British government has called "legal but harmful speech", or things like "non-crime hate incidents" or minor offences that would not justify putting money into investigations, or civil matters.

I have in mind the way the Regulation of Investigatory Powers act was used to catch people doing things such as not picking up their dog's poo or lying about where they lived to get their kids into a better school.