-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- In message <3278D196.41C6@ai.mit.edu>, Hallam-Baker writes:
Actually the police are currently asking for permission to use wiretap evidence in court. There is some opposition because there are those who want to keep the extent of the capability quiet. There is very good evidence for widespread use of wiretaps and SIGINT against the IRA.
Interesting - I hadn't been following the matter, that's why I'd missed it. I knew MI5 was trying to get involved with anti-terrorism measures in the UK, though I don't know with what success.
Since when was cash annonymous? In the UK each banknote has a serial number which is recorded at the banks when it is passed arround. There is no reason why the US federal reserve wouldn't have added it to its existing note processing machinery since they must read the serial number during their checks for countrefeit notes.
It could be argued that it is a matter of degree - it is probably easier to trace transactions through Mondex than with cash alone.
If Mondex said their product was "like cash" that does not mean they claimed it to be anonymous.
They say: "In everyday use Mondex transactions are private, like cash" at http://www.mondex.com/faq.htm#anon Thus they are making two claims: 1. Cash is anonymous. 2. Mondex is like cash. Derek -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.3ia Charset: noconv iQCVAgUBMnj0t1XdSMogwMcZAQGE5QP5AWzSBVL0OMdX73b4Dnass7zAmwV/a/Te PX+rWRxA0oOJpkEY8BIqrIhRqsYWpfCKyE9ngjvvIapmCQVg0CGQnl2FhF/D6lUa kGNlEDuAHfJC/OWrBJRN3+BwTUCRgyHqmhkKusaUsf+reh4NBwAA25uD3QBui7tm Nbxzv4MTwjY= =NMiM -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----