It&#x27;s not just that federally-mandated backdoors increase the chance of compromise (although they certainly do). If the U.S. government can mandate that technology companies provide access through encryption, then so can other countries. Sovereignty is still a powerful concept under international law.<p>So imagine if Apple, upon condition of selling iPhones within China, must provide the Chinese government with a backdoor through Apple&#x27;s encryption. Do you know how many federal employees use Apple technology? Including the President himself, who totes an iPad everywhere?<p>I don&#x27;t think that federal intelligence and law enforcement officials calling for backdoors have fully thought through the consequences.