Given

the warrant-less surveillance conducted by the NSA?

The tech companies concerns are well founded.

Barr Revives Debate Over ‘Warrant-Proof’ Encryption

"Tech companies, fearful that this access could be misused for spying or exploited by hackers, continue to build products so securely encrypted that the companies themselves are sometimes unable to access the data on them."

I hate to be all conspiracy theorist and all but this sounds like event planning.

"Mr. Barr sought to convince technology companies to work toward a compromise with law-enforcement agencies, lest they are forced to deal with hastily passed laws in the wake of a crisis. “Given the frequency with which these situations are now arising, it is only a matter of time before a sensational case crystallizes the issue for the public,” Mr. Barr said.