Forwarded from "Fred B. Ringel" <fredr@rivertown.net> on pgp-users list: Hi all- A list member forwarded this to me and I thought it was important enough to pass on. Its a "clarification" of the Government's "Key-Escrow/Key Recovery" position which is apparently "worldwide" in its intended reach. Besides the orwellian (sp?) nature of the proposal, I personally cannot imagine how this would be enforceable. Anyway, its something to ponder...how the government intends not only to restrict privacy rights at home, but extend those restrictions beyond our borders. Fred /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Fred B. Ringel Rivertown.Net Systems Administrator P.O. Box 532 and General Fixer-upper Hastings, New York 10706 Voice/Fax/Support: 914.478.2885 Data: 914-478-4988 Westchester's Rivertown's Full Service Flat-Rate Internet Access Provider E-mail "SEND-PGPKEY" in the Subject for my Public Key \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ ----Begin Forwarded Message----
From EPIC http://www.epic.org/crypto/export_controls/draft_regs_12_96.html
**Commerce Department Prepares Draft Encryption Export Regulations** December 11, 1996 The Commerce Department is circulating draft regulations that differ sharply from earlier assurances made by the White House to relax export controls on strong encryption. The draft regulations state that it is the aim of the Commerce Department to promote "a worldwide key management infrastructure with the use of key recovery and key escrow encryption items." The proposal contrasts with earlier assurances that encryption standards would be voluntary and market-driven. The regulations would amend the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by imposing national security and foreign policy controls ("EI" for Encryption Items) on certain information security systems and equipment, cryptographic devices (including recoverable encryption software) and related technology. For the first time, the Administration makes clear what it means by "Key Recovery Encryption." The regulations state that: For purposes of this rule, "recovery encryption products" refer to encryption products (including software) which allow law enforcement officials to obtain under proper legal authority and without the cooperation or knowledge of the user, the plaintext of encrypted data and communications. This is an exact description of the original Clipper encryption proposal that was widely opposed by Internet users and industry when it was announced in 1993.