December 2003 - cypherpunks-legacy

(no subject)
by Michael Cortes 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

unsuscribe cypherpunks

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Fed Ct hrg re Diffie-Hellman & Hellman-Merkle patents
by Greg Broiles 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

A hearing is scheduled in federal district court in San Jose for 10/30 at 10:00 AM on _Schlafly v. Public Key Partners_ and _RSA Datasec v. Cylink_. The hearing is on defendant Cylink's motion(s) for summary judgment regarding the validity of the Diffie-Hellman and Hellman-Merkle patents. The district court is located at 280 S. First in San Jose. Judge Williams is in Courtroom 4 on the 5th floor. There are 12 matters scheduled at 10:00 AM so it's unlikely that this matter will be heard at exactly 10:00. (It's listed as fifth in the court calendar in The Register and the Daily Journal, but I've got no clue about their algorithm for calling cases.) I don't know if it will be interesting or boring. The fewer metal things you bring the faster you can get through the metal detectors. More information is available at <http://www.cruzio.com/~schlafly> and <http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1005230/0000950005-96-000312.txt>. -- Greg Broiles | "We pretend to be their friends, gbroiles(a)netbox.com | but they fuck with our heads." http://www.io.com/~gbroiles | |

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Tim May is a fine person.
by anonymous＠miron.vip.best.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Tim May is the author of "The Crypto Anarchist Manifesto" and the "Cypherpunks FAQ". These seminal works do much to promote the cypherpunk concept, whereby ordinary people can limit the power of government to snoop on their communications, by using the power of cryptography. By tirelessly promoting strong unescrowed cryptography, Tim May frightens those that would enslave us all. His opposition to the oppressive ITAR regs puts Tim May among those who work to advance the development of culture and against those who would work to suppress it. Much of the time devoted to these concerns could have been devoted to purely personal goals. Tim May must be hailed as a truly noble supporter of the advance of freedom and humanity.

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[NEWS] Cuba and the Internet
by E. Allen Smith 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

I wonder what addresses they'll be using? I can't recall a Cuba domain, but I may easily be mistaken. If some consistent pattern can be found, cgi scripts could block them from getting to technically useful data, thus decreasing Cuba's economic viability further. -Allen > ______________________________________________________________________ > Schoolhouse Videos and CD's > ______________________________________________________________________ > Cuba to open Internet link, but only for some > __________________________________________________________________________ > Copyright © 1996 Nando.net > Copyright © 1996 Reuter Information Service > HAVANA (Oct 5, 1996 12:36 p.m. EDT) - Cuba will establish links with > the Internet from next week, but will initially allow only selected > scientific and other state institutions to have access to the > international information network, official Cuban media said Saturday. > The ruling Communist Party newspaper Granma said the state-run > National Center for Automized Exchange of Information (CENIAI), > designated as the national provider of the service, would set up the > link next Friday. > Cuban authorities said in June that access to the Internet would be > defined by Cuba's interests and priority would be given to individuals > and bodies with most relevance to the country's life and development. > Granma said the Internet link give Cuba access to a bank of world > knowledge and enable it to present its point of view to the world, > including in areas such as scientific advances. [...] > Copyright © 1996 Nando.net

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[NEWS] (late, sorry) Airline Tracking Bill signed
by E. Allen Smith 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

> BARRON'S Online - Market Surveillance for the Financial Elite > ______________________________________________________________________ > Centura > ______________________________________________________________________ > President signs aviation bill with clause opposed by labor unions > __________________________________________________________________________ > Copyright © 1996 Nando.net > Copyright © 1996 The Associated Press > WASHINGTON (Oct 9, 1996 11:12 a.m. EDT) -- President Clinton today > signed into law an aviation spending bill he cheered for its airline > safety and counterterrorism provisions but that angers one of the > Democrats' biggest backers: organized labor. > "It will improve the security of air travel, it will carry forward our > fight against terrorism," Clinton said. "Americans will not only feel > safer, they will be safer." A: highly doubtful; B: what's that quote about Liberty and Security? I'd comment on the increased searches that, from what I've seen, they'll do no good whatsoever. I was searched on going through the Newark airport, and had a _lot_ of hardback books in my suitcase... which the security drone completely failed to riffle through to see if they were hollowed out with explosives inside. Given the commonness of books as hiding places, this would appear obvious... but what do you expect when people are selected for such jobs by piss tests, "background checks" (e.g., not having any political thoughts in their head other than pro-government ones), and Affirmative Action? > The counterterrorism provisions reflected several recommendations made > by the White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security, created > on July 25 by Clinton in the aftermath of the crash of TWA Flight 800 > off Long Island. > Speaking at the bill-signing ceremony, Attorney General Janet Reno > called the legislation "another stage in our battle to secure our > people from the danger of terrorism." Unfortunately, her retirement due to Parkinson's won't help matters, at least from how the current political situation looks. > Clinton made no mention of the provision in the bill that has upset > organized labor. At least there's that to say for the dammed bill. > Despite the flap over the Federal Express provision, the aviation > spending bill won Clinton's approval because of its central features: > authorizing $19 billion over two years for airport improvement, > maintenance and security. > The security provisions, such as requiring background checks of > baggage handlers, are among a host of new actions Clinton has pushed > to combat the threat of terrorism. [...] > Clinton was introduced at the White House ceremony by Doug Smith, who > lost his daughter in the Oct. 31, 1994, crash of a commuter plane in > Roselawn, Ind., and who is now president of the National Air Disaster > Alliance, a family support group. > Smith thanked Clinton for the legislation, which he called "a major > step in the healing process for each of us." He called a moment of > silence for air disaster victims. Standard emotional politicking. I have every sympathy with the victims, their families, and their friends (one of whom I know, from the TWA 737 explosion)... but emotion isn't how to decide to pass laws. > The bill also authorizes the government to produce computer "profiles" > of passengers to track of travel patterns or other indicators that > raise suspicion of a security risk. > Flight lists also could be matched with lists of known terrorists > compiled by intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Similar methods > have been used in drug interdiction efforts in recent years. I suspect my family won't be seeing me as much... > Copyright © 1996 Nando.net

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[NEWS] Clinton signs bill on intelligence
by E. Allen Smith 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

> ______________________________________________________________________ > Long Distance Free Call when you switch to AT&T for free > ______________________________________________________________________ > Clinton to sign bill restructuring intelligence-gathering > __________________________________________________________________________ > Copyright © 1996 Nando.net > Copyright © 1996 The Associated Press > CHAUTAUQUA, N.Y. (Oct 5, 1996 4:54 p.m. EDT) -- President Clinton will > sign a bill requiring modest changes in the U.S. intelligence > community, despite the CIA director's objection to one of its > provisions, officials said Saturday. > The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the bill > satisfies Clinton's desire to restructure intelligence-gathering > agencies in light of post-Cold War threats. Translation: now that we're no longer using Communism as the standard threat to justify stuff, we'll use terrorism et al. > The bill: > --Gives the FBI power to subpoena local telephone records. Remind me to use pay phones. > --Authorizes the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security > Agency to collect data on foreign citizens for U.S. investigations. > --Requires Senate confirmation of the CIA's general counsel. That is > meant to prevent political influence over a position designed to block > illegal covert operations. Senate confirmation will _prevent_ political influence? [...] > "We want to see some new structures developed to take into account our > need both to conserve resources, but also address some of the new > threats and the new challenges we face in the world," McCurry told > reporters at Clinton's pre-debate retreat. > Still, the bill presents a diminished version of reforms lawmakers > sought after scandals involving CIA activities in Guatemala, > misspending by the National Reconnaissance Office and years of > espionage by former CIA officer Aldrich Ames. > Copyright © 1996 Nando.net

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[NEWS] Progress on Internet gambling
by E. Allen Smith 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

> ______________________________________________________________________ > Ford Tarus SHO > ______________________________________________________________________ > Internet game gambling proposed > __________________________________________________________________________ > Copyright © 1996 Nando.net > Copyright © 1996 Kansas City Star > LAS VEGAS (Oct 6, 1996 8:06 p.m. EDT) -- Casinos of the future will be > as close as your living room and betting will be as easy as a few > clicks of the mouse. And the future may be only a few weeks away. > At the World Gaming Congress & Expo in Las Vegas last week, an > Internet casino company announced that its "virtual reality" casino > will begin accepting electronic wagers on blackjack, craps, slot > machines and other games before the end of the year, and maybe by > Halloween. > "We're not looking for big-time gamblers," said Peter Michaels, chief > executive of World Wide Web Casinos Inc., based in Antigua. "We want > people who want to have a little fun....We think this is the wave of > the future." > Gamblers can place bets after establishing a minimum $300 credit > account with the company through computer transmission of a standard > bank credit card number. > There's an unquenched thirst for Internet entertainment, said Frank > Feather, who delivered the gaming expo's keynote address. Feather > predicted that public demand will blunt efforts to outlaw Internet > gambling. Not only will it thrive, he said, but it will become a > principal gaming medium. > "The Internet is the new frontier of gaming," Feather said. "It > basically eradicates geography....Internet gaming will be > unstoppable." [...] > But how long Michaels' Web site gambling parlor -- and a few others > also about to go on line -- will stay in business is problematic. > Later this month, another would-be Internet casino operator will be in > a Minnesota courtroom, defending his operation. The international > gaming industry will be watching that test case to learn whether > states can regulate Internet commerce. Not having anything located in the US and other countries which restrict gambling will help. > A court ruling earlier this year suggests they cannot. A federal court > in Philadelphia issued a ruling in June that protected free speech -- > even pornographic speech -- on the Internet. That case struck a blow > for the First Amendment but threw sections of Congress' Communications > Decency Act into question. > The ruling, appealed by the Justice Department, offers hope to > Internet innovators such as Michaels that their gambling medium can > remain relatively free of government regulation. > But that won't happen if officials such as Minnesota Attorney General > Hubert H. Humphrey III have their way. Humphrey last year sued Granite > Gate Resorts Inc. of Las Vegas after it promoted itself on the Web as > a legal enterprise that was "coming soon." > Casino gambling, with some exceptions, is illegal in Minnesota, > Humphrey contended, and it is a federal crime to transmit any gambling > data through interstate communications wires. But it's not just > Internet gamblers who worry Humphrey. > "Anyone with a computer and telephone can start soliciting on the > Internet," he said in court documents, arguing that his state's > consumers must be protected from the unscrupulous. If somebody's dumb enough to gamble without looking for some protections from fraud (or, in any event, to gamble on pure chance), they don't deserve protection. If someone wants to rant and rave about the poor problem gamblers, I'd point out A: alcoholics and Prohibition; and B: I'd prefer people getting an adrenalin high from gambling to their getting it out on the highways. > Granite Gate contends that the state of Minnesota lacks jurisdiction > to regulate its commercial transactions. > The Justice Department has been silent on the issue over the last > year, during which more than 200 gambling-related home pages have > opened on the Web. Most offer only advice or hints of real gambling to > come, and several offer games "for amusement only." > The government acknowledges that Internet technology has emerged too > rapidly and -- for those based offshore -- well beyond the reach of > existing laws. > "There is nothing we can do about people that operate gambling > businesses outside of the United States," said John Russell, a Justice > Department spokesman. Chuckle... > Michaels quotes Russell to that very effect in World Wide Web Casinos' > promotional material, which also solicits investors in the company. > Peter Demos, the casino's president, said the company is taking a hard > stand on the legality question. > "At this point we are considering the United States to be a legal > jurisdiction to book bets, and we will take bets from the United > States until some attorney general or somebody tells us that it is > their position that it is illegal," Demos said. "Until laws are passed > to make it illegal, it is in fact legal." > Many of the World Wide Web Casinos' 80 employees are at its Santa Ana, > Calif., offices, where most of the computer graphics work and other > nongambling functions take place. That's probably not a good idea. > The company also runs the St. James Casino Club in Antigua, where the > gambling side of the Internet casino will be based. [...] > Winners will be paid with electronic credits through a company-issued > Visa debit card that is accepted worldwide, he said. One wonders how much tracking there will be of usage of that card? > Michaels' company also is establishing a self-policing industry group > that will set standards for Internet gambling. [...] > At the Las Vegas convention, Cyberspace President Ronald A. Angiers > also announced the establishment of his firm's Internet Gaming Board, > which aims to certify various gambling operations as both honest and > solvent to protect the fledgling industry's integrity and to mediate > disputes. > "There's great potential for corruption and unfair gaming practices," > he said. > Copyright © 1996 Nando.net

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Re: Prof Shamir arrested
by azur＠netcom.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

>Jim Bell wrote: >[many things on "fraud"] > >Excuse me if I don't react on this in detail. We have already >explained it, and there it stands: fraud means playing a game without >abiding by its rules. It's perfectly legitimate to establish a game >and to introduse rules of the game with it. If you want to play the >game, play by its rules, otherwise don't play it. If you play it >while cheating, though, you must bear the consequences ("go directly >to jail" ;-). > Or play the game the way nations do, be prepared to meet LE with equal or greater force or creditable threat of same. -- Steve

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ANNOUNCE: Scientists for Labour encryption and escrow conf, Nov 14th,"Liberty on the Line"
by Caspar Bowden 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Full details: http://www.shef.ac.uk/~sfl/meetings/itconf.html PLEASE DISTRIBUTE AND LINK TO YOUR WEB-SITE: Scientists for Labour - IT & Communications Group Conference on Information Superhighway Policy --------------------------------------------------------------------- "Liberty on the Line : Opportunities and Dangers of the Superhighway" --------------------------------------------------------------------- Chaired by Geoff Hoon MP, Shadow Minister for IT Thursday 14th November 1996, 9am - 5:30pm MSF Centre, 33-37 Moreland Street, London EC1 (Angel tube) --------------------------------------------------------------------- For further details or to reserve a place contact: Caspar Bowden, SfL IT & Comms co-ordinator (qualia(a)dircon.co.uk) The debate over Internet regulation in the UK has focused mainly on censorship, but the standards for control of "encryption keys", currently being formulated nationally and internationally, will lay the permanent foundations on which the Information Society is built. The long-term implications for civil liberties have received little public attention outside the Internet community. Scientists for Labour is hosting a conference to look at the data protection and economic issues arising from the integration of digital signatures, electronic copyright management, and digital cash. What kind of regulatory apparatus will allow rapid growth of an information economy, but prevent misuse of personal data ? *) New government proposals on "Trusted Third Parties", which aim to preserve law enforcement and national security capabilities for warranted interception of communications (to fight crime and terrorism), place only procedural not technical limits on the scope of Superhighway surveillance. *) Super-computers have the potential to conduct random electronic "fishing expeditions" against the whole population. Telephone and letter interception cannot be automated : digital monitoring can. Will legal safeguards against abuse offer adequate protection in perpetuity, or can cryptographic protocols be designed which make Superhighway mass- surveillance impossible, while still allowing criminals to be targeted ? Computer and legal policy experts will explain the principles of the different technologies, and the international and commercial context, in a search for interdisciplinary solutions. The attendance fee is ?5 (?2 unwaged ; SfL members free) For press information please contact : Bobbie Nicholls, SfL Press Officer, Fax: 01235 529172 The Scientists for Labour home page (http://www.shef.ac.uk/~sfl/) has information on how to join SfL, or contact the Secretary : Dr Robin Walters (R.G.Walters(a)shef.ac.uk) Programme --------- 9.00-9.30 Registration SfL members free, non-members ?5 (?2 unwaged) 9.30-9.45 Geoff Hoon MP Introduction 9.45-10.45 Dr.John Leach Cryptography and developments in Trusted Third Party policy 10.45-11.45 Dr.Ross Anderson Some problems with the Trusted Third Party programme 11.45-12.00 Coffee 12.00-12.30 Simon Davies Escrow and the hidden threat to human rights and privacy 12.30-1.00 Elizabeth France (Data Protection Registrar) 1.00-2.00 Buffet lunch 2.00-2.45 Prof. Charles Public policy and legal aspects of Intellectual Oppenheim Property Rights 2:45-3.30 Alistair Kelman Electronic Copyright Management : Possibilities and Problems 3.30-3.45 Tea 3:45-4:45 Andrew Graham Will the Information Superhighway enhance or diminish democracy ? 4.45-5.30 Panel Session Discussion (inc. Robert Schifreen) ---------------------------------------------------------------------

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DC Digest
by se7en 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

What a pain in the ass! You leave town for a bit and the backlog gets insane! Anyway, http://www.dis.org/se7en/ and click on DC-Digest for those of you who wanna save your inbox. Other issues will appear tomorrow, starting with more recent, and going back to the older. All signal, no noise. Each post is hyperlinked from a table of contents, and every follow-up post is hyperlinked to the original post. All email addresses and URLs are also hyperlinked. Order is *slighty* skewed to read more coherently, and can be read from top to bottom for maximum effectiveness. Off to bed, se7en

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