FBI director James Comey is urging tech giants to do more to help the agency monitor people.

Comey said at a speech at the Brookings Institute that Apple and Google are hampering cops and gmen from protecting the public by turning on file encryption by default in iOS and Android.

Comey went on to say: "There is a misconception that building a lawful intercept solution into a system requires a so-called 'back door,' one that foreign adversaries and hackers may try to exploit. But that isn't true. We aren't seeking a back-door approach. We want to use the front door, with clarity and transparency, and with clear guidance provided by law. We are completely comfortable with court orders and legal process - front doors that provide the evidence and information we need to investigate crime and prevent terrorist attacks."

It seems he is concerned that not all carriers are complying with the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act which requires manufacturers to build security holes into devices for Uncle Sam to exploit to intercept communications.

Comey said that unless such front-door access was granted to the Feds then "homicide cases could be stalled, suspects could walk free, and child exploitation might not be discovered or prosecuted."