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Bill Campbell wrote:
Does anyone have any pointers to info about the import/export restrictions on encryption products in various countries. I know any such summary would be very dynamic, but perhaps there's something out there.
The Australian regulations are available at: CUSTOMS (PROHIBITED EXPORTS) REGULATIONS - SCHEDULE 13 http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_reg/cer439/sch13.html and: AUSTRALIAN CONTROLS ON THE EXPORT OF DEFENCE AND STRATEGIC GOODS: http://www.adfa.oz.au/DOD/al/iic/excontrl/excohome.htm Crypto software comes under Part 3, Category 5/2 of these regulations. (These documents are in MS Word format) ADFA, for those who are not aware, is the Australian Defence Force Academy, the major tertiary training institute for the defence forces. I have an extract of the key clauses of these regulations if anyone is interested. Briefly, the Australian regulations ban cryptography exports, claiming responsibilities as a party to the Wassenaar Arrangement, although the actual details of the latter regarding crypto seem obscure. However, an export license can be obtained on application to the Defence Ministry. The conditions of such a license are not openly stated, and at least one Australian software company has been refused a license. It would seem that even "public domain" software such as PGP is covered here. Ironically, the international version of PGP is available from the ADFA site at: ftp://ftp.adfa.oz.au/pub/security/pgp263i/ The government attitude to crypto policy generally in Australia is much more relaxed than in the USA. There is a recognition of business and personal need for strong crypto and that a balance needs to be sought between those needs and that of the law enforcement community. Although key escrow has been raised as an issue in some circles, it has not formed part of any government policy as yet. Greg Taylor EFA Crypto Committee