Re: US Congress already discussing bans on strong crypto

From: Michael Richards (michael@fastmail.ca)
Date: 09/14/01 

To: freebsd-security@FreeBSD.ORG
From: "Michael Richards" <michael@fastmail.ca>
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2001 10:10:35 -0400 (EDT)

I think it would be just as effective if they were to pass a law
requiring all terrorist organisations to provide backdoor keys to
their encrypted communications.

Since things like DES and RSA are so widely published there really
isn't a way to make these "go away". If you're planning on hijacking
aircraft and flying them into buildings, I don't think you will care
that much about a little law against sending PGP'd email.

-Michael

[snip]
> One can hope that since it would be impossible for the whole
> international community to agree on a single set of backdoor keys
> (or central escrow authority), that perhaps this will die just
> from the practical difficulties. A central set of keys or central
> authority after all would be the only way for the FBI to get at
> keys for software used by terrorists in a less-than-friendly
> country. Not to mention the fact that any 16 year old can simply
> implement the code again.
>
> -Mike

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