Newsgroups: alt.politics.datahighway,comp.org.eff.talk,talk.politics.crypto From: tcmay@netcom.com (Timothy C. May) Subject: The Data Highway Patrol Message-ID: <tcmayCHGF7E.Cu1@netcom.com> Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest) X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8] Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1993 10:16:26 GMT The Data Highway will no doubt be patrolled by a new elite police force, the "Data Highway Patrol." Patterned after the California Highway Patrol, also known as "CHiPS" (as in the terrible-but-campy t.v. show of the 1970s), the Data Highway Patrol will presumably be dubbed the "ClipperCHiPS." They'll be sent out on their Harley-Davidson cybercycles to check for discriminatory data packets, for illegal use of encryption technology, and for "heavy loads" that strain network resources. And occasionally they'll stop and help a stranded Internetter. They'll have the top-rated Data Highway show in the 2002-3 season, ironically and recursively enough. Will President Reno send them in to raid the Cyber-Waco havens? --- Seriously, I haven't been following this group (alt.politics.datahighway, that is) too closely, after posting early on to it, as it seemed like the two camps--pro and con--were settling down to restating their positions. So, sorry if I'm now intruding. I was writing an essay for the Cypherpunks mailing list on the way strong crypto will make local gambling laws unenforceable (through "telegambling," where a casino in the Bahamas, or "somewhere" in cypherspace, is only a phone call through some digital mixes away). It became clear to me that the authorities will hardly countenance the use of the Data Highway---the taxpayer's NII--for such uses. (And a lot of other "interesting" uses I could describe. If interested, join the Cypherpunks mailing list by sending a request to "cypherpunks-request@toad.com". We were featured on the cover of the second issue of "Wired" and in the Summer, '93 issue of "Whole Earth Review," etc. An interesting bunch of folks.) No, the Data Highway won't likely tolerate "sealed loads" that might be accessing offshore gambling dens, kiddie porn rings, or weapons secret information markets (not to mention the ever-worrisome anonymous markets for assasinations...child's play with digital remailers and digital cash). Not any more than they now accept trucks carrying loads across state and national borders without the possibility of inspection. A national data highway will have lots of rules and regulations for "fair access," for the allowable data packets that can travel on it, and for taxation of the explosion in commercial traffic which will inevitably come. Hence, the Data Highway Patrol. Or maybe they'll call it the "CyberSpace Patrol." Personally, I hate government programs. I don't want the government "helping" with networks, and I don't want a streamlined data highway. I like the developing system we've got of zillions of cables, satellites, fiber optics, and the like, With lots of suppliers of services and lots of rerouting of packets, it makes it real hard to enforce the kind of restriction cited above. And that's a good thing. --Tim May -- .......................................................................... Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, tcmay@netcom.com | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero 408-688-5409 | knowledge, reputations, information markets, W.A.S.T.E.: Aptos, CA | black markets, collapse of governments. Higher Power: 2^756839 | Public Key: PGP and MailSafe available. Note: I put time and money into writing this posting. I hope you enjoy it.