James Comey is talking about tech companies like Apple and Google that say their new operating systems will be encrypted, or protected by coding.
Comey says encrypting smartphone data has serious consequences for law enforcement and national security agencies.
Comey spoke today at the Brookings Institution. He says encryption is like a safe that can't be cracked or a closet that can't be opened. The Federal Bureau of Investigation director says justice may be denied because of a locked phone and that critical information routinely comes from smartphones, hard drives and online sources.