How can they manage communication technology outside of firms, such as open source software? They can't stop individuals from using secure messaging services unless they outright ban the algorithms and any implementation of them. In which case would websites like github, hosting the software need to be banned?
Agreed. It is a policy that is ignorant of many realities. It is an absurdity to think that there shouldn't exist information that the government cannot access. The function of government is to serve the people. People should have the ultimate leverage when it comes to freedom of information. If that balance is lost, there are few safeguards against tyranny. Encryption makes the work of law enforcement more difficult, but so do all right to privacy laws, and guarantees of legal due diligence and fairness. The nature of our society depends upon such protections.