At 4:47 PM 2/11/96, Deranged Mutant wrote:
I caught the last few seconds of a CNN story on FVs FUD this morning. It followed with the RSA selling crypto to China story, where they clearly opted for soundbytes... the cut Phil Z's words short when he was talking about the benefits of crypto... they asked him something about why crypto is good for national security and you hear him say a few economic things but then he's cut off (probably before he can mention personal freedom as benefitting national security... but that's only a guess).
I'm just about giving up on the "infotainment" media for ever getting the facts straight. Just not enough time, and they go for the most provocative statements to make the story "interesting." Even a longer format such as on the Newshour with Jim Lehrer (formerly the MacNeil-Lehrer Newshour) can barely get a coherent story on crypto and cyberspace issues out. If they interview several people, then maybe Mike Godwin will get 60 seconds, Kathy Cleaver will get 60 seconds, and then some rebuttal. No way to get the key ideas across. Ironically, there is some hope. I just got an "academic" paper to review, and one of the main URLs cited was Steven Levy's "Crypto Rebels" piece (the URL is http://www.hotwired.com/wired/1.2/features/crypto.rebels.html). I may be biased about this article, but I still think it to be the best introductory article on the crypto controversy. Academics citing popular articles! Well, Levy's article is a very good, and insightful, exposition of the issues and the coming battle between the two opposing points of view. (And it shows that popular-oriented articles need not be solely devoted to flash, sizzle, and outrageous comments, that ideas can be explored and positions contrasted.) Just thought I'd say something positive about journalism. --Tim May Boycott espionage-enabled software! We got computers, we're tapping phone lines, we know that that ain't allowed. ---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---- Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, tcmay@got.net 408-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA | knowledge, reputations, information markets, Higher Power: 2^756839 - 1 | black markets, collapse of governments. "National borders aren't even speed bumps on the information superhighway."