The Islamic State is striving to convince the world it knows how to use encrypted communication.
Opening images in a video published on Sunday “suggest that ISIS fighters were using the data encryption software PGP for secure communications,” the Middle East Media Research Institute reports. The video, which features statements by the perpetrators of the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris, allegedly contains details of a future attack planned for the United Kingdom.
“The threat against the U.K. appears at the end of the video, when various locations in London are shown along with footage of British Prime Minister David Cameron with his head in crosshairs,” MEMRI reports. “The video promises retaliation against countries that are fighting ISIS.”
However, possible errors in the coding suggested a timestamp discrepancy that would indicate the encrypted message was fake, leading to a dispute between former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden and a representative of the Islamic State on Twitter.
Does #ISIS see advantage in West limiting access to strong security? Juxtaposing “spooky” fake crypto with anti-crypto Cameron implies yes.
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) January 24, 2016
Journos: The #ISIS video’s “encrypted email” is confirmed fake. If any official responds as if it’s real, push back. pic.twitter.com/fKHAAk1SAa
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) January 24, 2016
“The ISIS video’s ‘encrypted email’ is confirmed fake,” Snowden said. “If any official responds as if it’s real, push back.” He also suggested that the jihadist group was trying to goad Western officials into coming out against encryption, asking, “Does ISIS see advantage in West limiting access to strong security? Juxtaposing ‘spooky’ fake crypto with anti-crypto Cameron implies yes.”
Responding to Snowden, “Rami” said Snowden had misunderstood the timestamps and insisted that a future attack was coming. “ISIS challenges the world to decrypt a PGP message dated 2015-11-16 for the next attack after #ParisAttacks,” Rami said.
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The dispute comes as Congress debates whether to pass laws to immediately weaken encryption, create a commission to discuss the issue, or focus their anti-terrorism efforts elsewhere.
