At 10:22 AM 6/5/96 -0700, Mixmaster wrote:

OECD NEWS RELEASE - Paris, 10 May 1996

OECD EXPERTS BEGIN DRAFTING CRYPTOGRAPHY GUIDELINES

Cryptography experts from OECD countries have begun drafting a proposal for OECD Cryptography Policy Guidelines that governments can use as a guide to formulate their national policies on encryption.

Many governments are under pressure within their own countries to develop a national position on cryptography,

This is bullshit. If anything, it's exactly the opposite: It is the GOVERNMENTS and those who hold government jobs who are doing the "pressuring." I haven't seen more than a trickle of desire for a "national position on cryptography." What Internet-people want is the ELIMINATION of a "national position on cryptography," I think.

which is used in computer technology to protect everything from product designs to health and tax records and global correspondence. But the needs of global technologies and applications require an international --rather than a strictly national -- approach to policymaking.

In other words, various Constitutions are getting in the way! Tough!

The fast-paced development of the Global Information Infrastructure adds an element of urgency.

In other words, the governments are feeling that the situation is getting out of their control! Excellent, that's progress.

The business community, individuals and national security and law enforcement agencies are all pressing for encryption guidelines

BULL! The businesses are saying, "Don't restrict crypto." The individuals are saying, "Don't restrict crypto!" So-called "law enforcement" agencies are saying, "We're losing control of the public! Where's '1984' when we need it!"

and the OECD will strive to reflect the legitimate interests of all these groups as it drafts Guidelines.

I don't think so.

The private sector is closely involved in drafting the Guidelines, with business representatives from the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) participating at the meeting.

Gee, what about THE INDIVIDUALS? You know, the ones you steal your tax money from? That's right, the peons.

The OECD meeting, which took place on 8 May, was hosted by the US Department of State in Washington DC.

That's because the USG is the most unhappy, because its Constitution is making it very difficult to ban crypto. It was held immediately after a

Second Business Government Forum on Global Cryptography Policy in Washington DC on 7 May, which was cosponsored by the OECD, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the OECD.

It probably had a similar lack of participation by ordinary citizens and netizens. Do I detect a pattern here?

Two similar conferences took place in Paris in December, when OECD countries and business representatives met for the first time to discuss international cryptography policy.

Probably because they had gotten wind a few months before of a serious potential danger to the continued hegemony of governments over the people.

The process of drafting the OECD Cryptography Policy Guidelines will continue at an experts meeting in June and is due for completion in early 1997.

It's already too late!

For further information, please contact Ms. Hiroko Kamata, OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry (tel. 331 45 24 80 04 - fax. 331 45 24 93 32 - e-mail. hiroko.kamata@oecd.org).

Jim Bell jimbell@pacifier.com