PALO ALTO, Calif.  The director of the National Security    Agency said Monday that he understands why Silicon Valley    companies have beefed up security to keep out government    agencies, including his own.  
    The statement, during a speech by Adm. Michael Rogers at    Stanford University, marked a small olive branch amid rising    tension between technology companies and Washington following    disclosures about the extent of electronic surveillance by    former NSA contractor Edward    Snowden.  
    Adm. Rogers said technology companies took steps to enhance    encryption in order to assure consumers that their personal    data is safe from prying government eyes. In addition, some    companies felt embarrassed after slides leaked by Snowden    suggested the companies had cooperated with U.S. spies.  
    Adm. Rogers, who took over the NSA in April, has been charged    with repairing those relations.  
    In the most recent clash,     Apple and     Google in September said they would no longer be able to    unlock smartphones, even if ordered by a court, for law    enforcement. James Comey, the director of the Federal Bureau of    Investigation and Robert Hannigan, head of the U.K. equivalent    of the NSA, said     the moves are enabling criminals.  
    Im not one who jumps up and down and says either side is    fundamentally wrong, Adm. Rogers said in response to a    reporters question Monday. I understand what drives each side    to their viewpoint.  
    Still, Adm. Rogers said he wondered if there might be some    mechanism that would allow the government to circumvent the    encryption schemes in special circumstances. It was unclear if    he endorsed such a policy.  
    The NSA is trying to mend bridges in Silicon Valley partly out    of necessity. The agency relies on young math and computer    science experts to power its intelligence operation. Many of    those techie kids go to Stanford and then work at technology    companies.  
    Adm. Rogers, whose visit was part recruiting pitch,    acknowledged he cant pay these students as much as     Facebook or     Twitter , but he can offer them something thats bigger    than you are.  
    There are also the cool spy toys. Were going to give you the    opportunity to do stuff you cant legally do anywhere else, he    said.  
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NSA Director Offers Olive Branch in Silicon Valley Speech