By Carol E. Lee, Colleen McCain Nelson and Danny Yadron
WASHINGTON--President Barack Obama pledged unwavering U.S.
support for European nations facing a new wave of terrorism
threats, including France and Belgium as they carried out raids
that led to the arrest of some two dozen people suspected of
terrorism links.
Mr. Obama, speaking at the White House on Friday during a news
conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron, said the two
leaders discussed a range of security issues, including the fight
against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria and negotiations
with Iran over its nuclear program.
But the terrorism threats that have gripped Europe since the
attacks in Paris last week dominated their meetings, Mr. Obama
said.
"This phenomenon of violent extremism--the ideology, the
networks, the capacity to recruit young people--this has
metastasized, and it is widespread," Mr. Obama said. "This is a
problem that causes great heartache and tragedy and destruction,
but it is one that ultimately we're going to defeat."
Mr. Cameron said the world is facing a "poisonous, radical,
death cult" ideology and vowed to confront terrorism "wherever it
appears." The British prime minister echoed Mr. Obama's resolve,
saying, "We know what we're up against, and we know how we will
win."
Mr. Cameron said the world is sickened by the terrorism, adding
that the real enemy is the poisonous narrative that is perverting
Islam.
Police in Belgium on Thursday arrested 13 people thought to have
been on the verge of carrying out attacks on police officers,
authorities said Friday. French police also arrested two people
with links to the plot, Belgian authorities said.
Mr. Obama cited alienated Muslim populations as Europe's
greatest danger.
Mr. Cameron said recent events present an opportunity for
European countries to make sure their systems for tackling the
problem are fortified. He highlighted the importance of updating
legislation to address evolving threats and the necessity of
building strong and integrated societies.
Amid increased concerns of terrorist attacks, Mr. Obama said it
is problematic that new communications software--made by major U.S.
technology companies--can prevent police from reading suspects'
messages even if they have a court order.
Those comments marked the first public foray by the president
into a public debate about whether Silicon Valley should be able to
make gadgets that go to great lengths to protect users' privacy,
even if it means locking out police as well.
"When we have the ability to track that, in a way that is legal,
conforms with due process, rule of law and oversight, then that's a
capability we have to preserve," Mr. Obama said.
Last year, Apple Inc. provoked a public fight with the Federal
Bureau of Investigation when it said its new iPhone software would
encrypt all data on the phone and could only be unlocked by a
customer's passcode, which Apple doesn't know. In the fall,
Facebook Inc.'s WhatsApp said it would start using a new encryption
that not even the company could unscramble. Other venture-backed
startups are creating similar apps that have become popular with
privacy hawks.
"If we find evidence of a terrorist plot...and despite having a
phone number, despite having a social media address or email
address we can't penetrate that, that's a problem," Mr. Obama
said.
The Clinton administration fought and lost a similar battle with
technology companies during the so-called crypto wars in the
1990s.
The president described U.S. tech firms as "patriots" and said
that technical issues would have to be sorted out. But it isn't
clear whether Silicon Valley executives are on board.
Write to Carol E. Lee at carol.lee@wsj.com, Colleen McCain
Nelson at colleen.nelson@wsj.com and Danny Yadron at
danny.yadron@wsj.com
Access Investor Kit for Apple, Inc.
Visit
http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=US0378331005
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires