Bill Frantz writes:
A quick read thru the text of the bill (via http://www.cdt.org/crypto/) shows none of the principle objectionable features of the Lehey bill. (Standards for key escrow agents, and additional criminal penalties for using encryption to hinder an investigation.)
This bill has some obscure, to me, exceptions. The most troubling of which I think means (IANAL) that export can be restricted if there is a reasonable expectation that the hard/software will be reexported to one of the countries on the extreme bad boys list.
I will point out that as things stand under U.S. law you aren't even allowed to export toilet paper if the expectation is that the ultimate customer is on the extreme bad boys list. Although as a libertarian I find any such provision distasteful I cannot see that we are badly off if the rules for exporting crypto and exporting toilet paper are roughtly similar.
in any case, it is not clear how passage of the bill could possibly make things worse.
I think that is key. Perry * PROTECT THE INTERNET AND THE FUTURE OF FREE SPEECH IN THE INFORMATION AGE * Join the legal challenge against the Communications Decency Act! For More Information, Visit the CIEC Web Page http://www.cdt.org/ciec/ or email <ciec-info@cdt.org> -- Jonah Seiger, Policy Analyst Center for Democracy and Technology <jseiger@cdt.org> 1634 Eye Street NW, Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20006 (v) +1.202.637.9800 PGP Key via finger (f) +1.202.637.0968 http://www.cdt.org/ http://www.cdt.org/homes/jseiger/