Encryption backdoors are a lightning-rod topic on HN, but instead of repeating all the common-talking points, I&#x27;d suggest the following:<p>Think through something like this, outside of your expertise, that you think the powers-that-be should just do.  Maybe it&#x27;s something with your local municipality&#x27;s approach to road resurfacing, maybe it&#x27;s the quarterback on your favorite football team, maybe it&#x27;s your local zoning board.<p>Chances are better than even that there is a decent technical reason why they don&#x27;t do what they do.  Looking at things that way will save you a lot of headache in your life, and set you on the path to getting on someone&#x27;s side to affect change, rather than just being another shrill voice yelling against them.<p>So politicians and intelligence services calling for encryption want, institutionally, to keep people safe.  How can tech companies do that without breaking or backdooring encryption?  That&#x27;s the real problem to solve, and the first person to figure out how to do that will be way ahead.