[haven't seen this on cypherpunks yet] OECD NEWS RELEASE - Paris, 10 May 1996 OECD EXPERTS BEGIN DRAFTING CRYPTOGRAPHY GUIDELINES Cryptography experts from OECD countries have begun drafting a proposal for OECD Cryptography Policy Guidelines that governments can use as a guide to formulate their national policies on encryption. Many governments are under pressure within their own countries to develop a national position on cryptography, which is used in computer technology to protect everything from product designs to health and tax records and global correspondence. But the needs of global technologies and applications require an international --rather than a strictly national -- approach to policymaking. The fast-paced development of the Global Information Infrastructure adds an element of urgency. The business community, individuals and national security and law enforcement agencies are all pressing for encryption guidelines and the OECD will strive to reflect the legitimate interests of all these groups as it drafts Guidelines. The private sector is closely involved in drafting the Guidelines, with business representatives from the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) participating at the meeting. The OECD meeting, which took place on 8 May, was hosted by the US Department of State in Washington DC. It was held immediately after a Second Business Government Forum on Global Cryptography Policy in Washington DC on 7 May, which was cosponsored by the OECD, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the OECD. Two similar conferences took place in Paris in December, when OECD countries and business representatives met for the first time to discuss international cryptography policy. The process of drafting the OECD Cryptography Policy Guidelines will continue at an experts meeting in June and is due for completion in early 1997. For further information, please contact Ms. Hiroko Kamata, OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry (tel. 331 45 24 80 04 - fax. 331 45 24 93 32 - e-mail. hiroko.kamata@oecd.org).