Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Donate
Stay Connected

LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network.

Audience-funded nonprofit news
Listen
Donate
Podcasts Take Two
Apple says iMessage, FaceTime are safe from NSA surveillance
solid orange rectangular banner
()
Take Two Logo
Jun 18, 2013
Listen • 6:31
Apple says iMessage, FaceTime are safe from NSA surveillance
Apple vows the text messaging service is encrypted and can't be read by anyone by the sender and the receiver.
Protesters rally outside the U.S. Capitol against the NSA's recently detailed surveillance programs June 13, 2013 in Washington, DC. Members of various action groups gathered to protest the ÒNational Security Agency's abuses of law abiding Americans.
Protesters rally outside the U.S. Capitol against the NSA's recently detailed surveillance programs June 13, 2013 in Washington, DC. Members of various action groups gathered to protest the ÒNational Security Agency's abuses of law abiding Americans.
(
Win McNamee/Getty Images
)

Apple vows the text messaging service is encrypted and can't be read by anyone by the sender and the receiver.

Today NSA director Keith Alexander told the House Intelligence Committee that the government's surveillance programs have thwarted roughly 50 terrorist plots worldwide, including one directed at the New York Stock Exchange.

But there are still plenty of Americans concerned about the government monitoring their phone calls and emails. 

Which may be why Apple offers this helpful suggestion: Use iMessage. Apple vows the text messaging service is encrypted and can't be read by anyone by the sender and the receiver.

It's the latest attempt by tech giants to assuage a nervous public. National Journal's technology writer Brian Fung has been looking into this and he joins the show with more.