Tension between the tech community and U.S. law enforcement agencies over privacy versus security is on the rise. But it's time for everyone to step back and take some of the drama out of the debate. There is much that the tech community and law enforcement can agree on. They can agree that we need a smooth, efficient legal process in place to provide law enforcement with access to information it needs to do its job. They can agree on the value of protecting end user privacy. And, they can agree that, in the long run, the globalized nature of the network requires us to forge international agreements that facilitate these two outcomes across international borders.
Success in the endeavor is not optional. The essential goals of preventing terrorism, combatting crime and protecting individual privacy and rights are intrinsic to a functioning society, not merely pleasant extrinsic objectives that are "nice to have."