DARPA Study Forecasts New Encryption Ending Intelligence Surveillance

Two X-45A Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles (UCAV) are shown to members of the news media at Edwards Air Force Base, California, U.S. on July 11, 2002. The X-45A, developed by The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Boeing Company, is the first unmanned system designed from inception for combat missions. David McNew/Getty Images

A study by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) forecasts U.S. intelligence’s communication surveillance capabilities are “‘Going Dark” as AI and quantum computing move toward true “end to end encryption.”

DARPA and the Center for Advanced Studies on Terrorism reported smartphones and servers with powerful processors applying “Blowfish” and other encryption algorithms and keys can now limit FBI and U.S. intelligence community access to communications. Within five years, “Honey encryption” and quantum keys will end FBI’s surveillance capabilities, and more powerful processors will end NSA access within 10 years.