PRESS RELEASE Wednesday, April 24, 1996 URL: http://www.privacy.org/ipc/ Contact: Marc Rotenberg, EPIC, 202/544-9240 Lori Fena, EFF, 415/436-9333 Barbara Simons, USACM 408/463-5661 Kurt Stammberger, RSA, 415/595-8782 ------------------------------------------ INTERNET PRIVACY COALITION FORMED Golden Key Campaign Launched Groups Urge Good Technology for Privacy and Security Senator Burns to Introduce Legislation ------------------------------------------ WASHINGTON, DC -- A new coalition today urged support for strong technologies to protect privacy and security on the rapidly growing Internet. The Internet Privacy Coalition said that new technologies were critical to protect private communications and on-line commerce, and recommended relaxation of export controls that limit the ability of US firms to incorporate encryption in commercial products. Phil Zimmermann, author of the popular encryption program Pretty Good Privacy, expressed support for the effort of the new coalition. "It is time to change crypto policy in the United States. I urge those who favor good tools for privacy to back the efforts of the Internet Privacy Coalition." GOLDEN KEY CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED The Coalition has asked companies and Internet users to display a golden key and envelope to show support for strong encryption technology. Copies of the logo are available at the group's web page on the Internet. According to Lori Fena, director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the purpose of the campaign is to educate the public about new techniques for privacy protection. "Society's feelings about privacy have not changed, only the medium has," said Ms. Fena. US industry has pressed the US government to relax export controls on encryption as consumer demand for software products has increased. They cite the fact that foreign companies have been able to sell strong products in overseas markets that are now restricted for US firms. Jim Bidzos, President and CEO of RSA Data Security, said that US firms continue to face excessive burdens. "Encryption is the key to on-line commerce. Government regulations are simply keeping US firms out of important markets." The Internet Privacy Coalition is the first attempt to bring together a broad base of companies, cryptographers and public interest organizations around the central goal of promoting privacy and security on the Internet and urging relaxation of export controls. Dr. Barbara Simons, chair of the public policy committee of the Association for Computing said, "The broad support for the Golden Key campaign shows that the reform of encryption policy is a shared goal for companies, users, and professional associations." SENATOR BURNS TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION The Internet Privacy Coalition is being established as Congress considers new legislation to relax export controls on encryption. Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT) today introduced legislation that would relax export controls on commercial products containing technologies for privacy such as encryption. Marc Rotenberg, director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, said "We believe that Senator Burns has put forward a constructive proposal. We look forward to working with him to ensure that good tools for privacy and security are widely available to Internet users." Hearings on Senator Burns bill are expected to take place in early June. The proposal has already gathered support from a bipartisan coalition in Congress. For Internet users who are interested in following the debate about encryption policy, the IPC has set up a Web page with information about encryption regulations, court challenges, legislative developments, and organizations and companies involved in the campaign. The Internet Privacy Coalition was established by more than a dozen of the nation's leading cryptographers, and thirty associations, companies, and civil liberties organizations committed to strong privacy and security technology for all users of the Internet. URL: http://www.privacy.org/ipc/ ---------------------------------------------- A KEY, AN ENVELOPE -- Both are historic means for communicating privately and protecting personal information. Today, encryption tools provide this privacy in the electronic world. The Golden Key Campaign is being launched to raise awareness and support for the preservation of the right to communicate privately and the availability of new techniques which make it possible. Privacy, a fundamental human right, has been affirmed by the US Supreme Court, the constitutions and laws of many countries, and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Privacy must be preserved as we move from paper to electronic communications. The Internet Privacy Coalition is urging members of the net community to display a Golden Key & Envelope symbol on their Web pages to show support for the right of privacy and the freedom to use good tools of privacy without government restraints. ----------------------------------------------