Re: Info on Netscape's key escrow position
At 11:01 PM 12/1/95 -0800, Jeff Weinstein wrote:
I think the gist of it is that if governments require key escrow, we will have to do it in order to sell our products with encryption into those countries.
Jim Clark wrote:
But if we do not come up with a solution to this problem that is acceptable to each government, we will not be able to export our products, except with a short key length (e.g. 40 bit keys), and that will not be acceptable to corporate customers in other countries.
I read it as saying: "Let us help the government invade the privacy of our customers, so that the government will do us some favors in export licensing", rather than "Well if they stick it to us at gunpoint, we will submit." I would appreciate some further "clarification". --------------------------------------------------------------------- | We have the right to defend ourselves | http://www.jim.com/jamesd/ and our property, because of the kind | of animals that we are. True law | James A. Donald derives from this right, not from the | arbitrary power of the state. | jamesd@echeque.com
James A. Donald wrote:
At 11:01 PM 12/1/95 -0800, Jeff Weinstein wrote:
I think the gist of it is that if governments require key escrow, we will have to do it in order to sell our products with encryption into those countries.
Jim Clark wrote:
But if we do not come up with a solution to this problem that is acceptable to each government, we will not be able to export our products, except with a short key length (e.g. 40 bit keys), and that will not be acceptable to corporate customers in other countries.
I read it as saying: "Let us help the government invade the privacy of our customers, so that the government will do us some favors in export licensing", rather than "Well if they stick it to us at gunpoint, we will submit."
After talking with Jim over lunch, I believe that the second interpretation is more accurate, and is certainly true of the companies position at this point. Also keep in mind that Jim's comments are his own opinion, and do not necessarily represent the position of the company. Barksdale's law is that we provide value to our customers. Our customers want long keys an no GAK, both within and outside the country. As long as we are legally allowed to do that, I think we will. The fact that customers know the dangers of 40-bit keys, and that it is the government that is forcing them to use weak keys, is in large part due to the brute force cracks of the cypherpunks. --Jeff -- Jeff Weinstein - Electronic Munitions Specialist Netscape Communication Corporation jsw@netscape.com - http://home.netscape.com/people/jsw Any opinions expressed above are mine.
participants (2)
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James A. Donald -
Jeff Weinstein