ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on how encryption is debated as a security technology. The intention is to give a better empirical insight into encryption as a security issue. The chapter presents the encryption–security controversy in the form of two narratives. In the first of these encryption hampers security: the state seems paranoid and threatened by citizens’ use of strong encryption. Citizens – or potential criminals – are empowered by companies to have sole access to their own data. In the second narrative, the state is the threat as it does not provide security for but rather endangers its own citizens. Encryption figures as the best tool for improving security and preventing privacy intrusions. In this scenario the citizen needs to be activated, since only an empowered user can take care of his or her security. As a result an individualisation of security can be observed. Conceptually, I show how the binary of public and private does not structure these security controversies and thus does not provide much analytical leverage. The role of economic actors is especially ambiguous and cannot be neatly located within the two main security narratives.
