At 09:45 PM 3/31/98 -0500, Frederick Burroughs wrote:
Obviously the Justice Dept. requires a few big busts involving crypto. The case should be one in which the perpetrators attempt to cover their misdeeds behind strong crypto. An informant will be needed to allow "plausible deniability". That is, Justice will say, "If not for the informant, we would have never been able to access the encrypted evidence. We can't depend on informants, we need better access." The crime should resonate abhorrent with the public, child prostitution ring, illegal dumping of hazardous waste, securities fraud against retirees, something that will generate a lot of letters to Congress. In the light of these pending realities, Congress will be all too willing to give out keys to the backdoor.
Don't forget the more obvious: an "impending terrorist attack by crazed gun owners who are outraged by reasonable restrictions on firearms."