Government Mandates for Tech Companies to Assist Law Enforcement

Tech companies have an obligation to assist law enforcement when they possess unique capabilities that can help solve criminal issues. This obligation has been a common law practice for centuries. Similar to landlords assisting in providing access to properties under suspicion, tech companies are expected to aid in investigations. The Supreme Court has ruled that there are no exceptional policies for tech companies to evade this responsibility, as shown in a case against New York telephone, now Verizon. Companies can argue against assisting law enforcement if the request is excessively burdensome or detrimental to their customers, as per existing laws.