--- begin forwarded text Mime-Version: 1.0 X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-Msmail-Priority: Normal X-Mimeole: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.2106.4 Importance: Normal Date: Fri, 18 Sep 1998 04:41:24 -0500 Reply-To: Digital Signature discussion <DIGSIG@LISTSERV.TEMPLE.EDU> Sender: Digital Signature discussion <DIGSIG@LISTSERV.TEMPLE.EDU> From: Richard Hornbeck <rhornbec@COUNSEL.COM> Subject: GILC Campaign to remove crypto restrictions from Wassenaar Arrangement To: DIGSIG@LISTSERV.TEMPLE.EDU The following excerpt from the Global Internet Liberty Campaign (GILC) Web page http://www.efa.org.au/wassenaar/support/ briefly describes its recent issuance of a statement calling for the removal of cryptography export restrictions from the Wassenaar Arrangement. Further background information on this international Arrangement, and on the considerable international support for this statement can be found at Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA)'s Web Site. Dr. Michael Baker of EFA is the primary author and original sponsor for the GILC statement. Further information is also available at the Wassenaar organization's Web site, http://www.wassenaar.org/ In principle, Wassenaar is the international version of those regulations that currently place restrictions on exporting strong crypto outside the U.S. All of the 33 member countries agree to abide by a set of standards for exporting encryption products from their countries, for the benefit or preventing terrorism, making international law enforcement's job easier, etc. Individuals subscribing to this list may wish to review this material, and add their organization or association's support to this important campaign. It is timed to coincide with the current round of Wassenaar talks in Vienna that begin this month, and continue through November. Richard Hornbeck ============================================================== The major impediment to the wide spread adoption of cryptography, to protect vital infrastructures from attack and electronic commerce from fraud, has been controls on the export of cryptography. The only international agreement on the export of cryptography is the Wassenaar Arrangement, which wrongly classes encryption as a dual-use technology (one that could be used for offensive purposes). On 15th September 1998 Members of the Global Internet Liberty Campaign issued a statement calling for the removal of cryptography export restrictions from the Wassenaar Arrangement. Since then companies and associations have been expressing their support for the statement. If your company or association wishes to "sign" the following support statement: "We, the undersigned companies and associations support the Global Internet Liberty Campaign Member Statement of 15th September 1998 calling for the removal of cryptography export restrictions from the Wassenaar Arrangement." please write to <signon@efa.org.au> giving your company or association name, web address and country. --- end forwarded text ----------------- Robert A. Hettinga <mailto: rah@philodox.com> Philodox Financial Technology Evangelism <http://www.philodox.com/> 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA "... however it may deserve respect for its usefulness and antiquity, [predicting the end of the world] has not been found agreeable to experience." -- Edward Gibbon, 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire'