Law360, New York ( November 24, 2015, 1:19 PM EST) -- Whether the government can force private companies to decode encrypted messages for law enforcement is the subject of renewed debate in the wake of the Paris attacks. American and French officials have said there is no definitive evidence that the terrorists used new, difficult-to-crack technologies to organize the plot. But the government's ability to obtain encrypted communications from technology companies is front and center once again. Just a few weeks ago, the matter seemed settled legislatively when the Obama administration told Congress that it would not seek statutory authority to compel technology companies to provide the keys to encrypted conversations and data. Judicially, the debate also continues as a federal magistrate judge in New York is considering this very question....