The High Performance Computing newsletter (HPCWire) just ran this article. Looks like Government Access to Export Keys (GAEK) or Government Access to Keys - Export (GAKE) or just plain GAK, for simplicity's sake. ObNetscape- I can run a web browser, like Netscape, over T1 link through firewall, but Netscape can't reverse DNS the address, so I can't get the more secure version; I can run Lynx from my account at the university, but Netscape doesn't like lynx, so I am back to dial-up PPP, at 14.4 .... Frustrating... any news on funet, or other 'export' sites? -- pj ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 22 Jul 96 11:29:34 -0700 From: HPCwire <hpcwire@newsmaster.tgc.com> To: ponder@mail.irm.state.fl.us Subject: 9107 U.S. Government Unveils New Encryption Policy Recommendations 07.19.96 U.S. Government Unveils New Encryption Policy Recommendations 07.19.96 NEWS BRIEFS HPCwire ============================================================================= Washington, DC -- U.S. Vice President Al Gore recently unveiled new recommendations to relax encryption export restrictions. The recommendations come with the caveat that restrictions will be eased only if the "keys" are escrowed to permit U.S. government access. Under the proposed key escrow, government officials could gain access to software keys with a court order, undergoing a process similar to that required to obtain wire taps. "These recommendations will protect individuals' transactions and communications on the Internet nationally and internationally while maintaining U.S. security," Gore said. Under the plan discussed by Gore, no restrictions of any kind would be imposed on encryption software for use within the United States. But software programs could only be exported with key escrow features allowing the U.S. government access to the keys. Private companies would be established to hold software keys and government could gain access with a court order. The administration abandoned earlier proposals that would have required the government hold copies of all keys. The new proposal would also give the Commerce Department authority currently held by the State Department over encryption export decisions. Software industry analysts estimate that current export restrictions will cost U.S. companies up to $60 billion in lost sales over the next few years. According to press reports from Reuters, Netscape has noted that it is already losing tens of millions of dollars in overseas sales because of encryption export limits. The limits also impact to some degree the growth of Internet commerce. Whitehouse officials are reluctant to recognize the claims of the software industry. "There are a lot of myths about the nature of the imminent commercial threat," Gore said, adding that officials at some companies, such as International Business Machines, are supportive of the administration's approach. According to press reports, another White House official said other countries would ban the import of U.S. software if controls on encryption were eased. "They will put up import barriers," the official said, adding the United States is trying to craft an international consensus on encryption policy, including use of key escrow, under the auspices of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The talks are "very far down the tracks," the White House official said. An administration cabinet committee is continuing to address details of the proposal, and expects to send its recommendations to President Clinton by early September. Administration officials continue to hold talks with industry executives, civil liberties groups and others. ******************************************************************************** HPCwire has released all copyright restrictions for this item. Please feel free to distribute this article to your friends and colleagues. For a free trial subscription, send e-mail to trial@hpcwire.tgc.com.