I would/will add to your list of things to cite: 1. the gov't has never had a right to citizens' keys and citizens have always had strong cryptography -- so this sets a terrible precedent, even if it's voluntary; 2. cyberspace should benefit from the same rights as physical space -- i.e., the right to assemble and converse in private; 3. secrecy around the key generation procedure is totally unnecessary. Keys should be generated as totally random numbers. The secrecy strongly suggests that the NSA intends to bypass the escrow mechanism, for example by having a secret function map from chip serial number to its secret key; 4. the justification for this effort was citizens' need for security in cellular and wireless calls while retaining the FBI's ability to wiretap. A superior engineering solution exists and doesn't carry the civil liberties infringements: to encrypt normally (e.g., with double DES) the broadcast portion of a cellular or wireless call, but leave the call in the clear over phone lines. Why did the government not encourage this solution? - Carl