Reuters New Media [World Book 1997 Multimedia Encyclopedia. Built upon the questions kids ask most. IBM] [ Yahoo | Write Us | Search | Info ] [ Index | News | World | Biz | Tech | Politic | Sport | Scoreboard | Entertain | Health ] _________________________________________________________________ Previous Story: U.S. Bill To Ban Internet Gambling Introduced Next Story: Rational Unveils Software With Microsoft _________________________________________________________________ Thursday March 20 2:56 PM EST Clinton Admin. To Offer Encryption Bill Shortly WASHINGTON - The Clinton administration plans to introduce legislation soon that would clearly affirm that encryption users in this country are free to use any type or strength of encryption technology, a senior administration official said. Currently, no such explicit law is on the books. Under Secretary of Commerce William Reinsch also told a Senate Commerce Committee hearing the bill would explicitly state that participation in so-called "key management infrastructure" would be voluntary. Key refers to the password or software "key" that can read encrypted information. The bill also would: -- Spell out the legal conditions for the release of "recovery information" to law enforcement officials. The bill also provides legal safeguards for third-party "key recovery agents" who have properly released such information. -- Criminalizes the misuse of keys and the use of encryption to further a crime. -- Offers, on a voluntary basis, firms that are in the business of providing public cryptography keys the opportunity to obtain government recognition. Such recognition, Reinsch said, would allow firms to "market the trustworthiness implied by government approval. The testimony came in a hearing on two bills introduced by Senate lawmakers that would remove almost all export curbs on encryption technology. The administration's newest export policy, enacted through executive order in November and in effect since January 1, allows export of stronger encryption than previously allowed. But it requires companies to incorporate features within two years allowing the government to crack the codes by getting access to the software keys. Administration officials said they opposed the export provisions in the two Senate bills, saying that the export liberalization goes too far. The bills were offered by Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Conrad Burns (R-Montana). Copyright, Reuters Ltd. All rights reserved _________________________________________________________________ ________________________ ___________ Help _________________________________________________________________ Previous Story: U.S. Bill To Ban Internet Gambling Introduced Next Story: Rational Unveils Software With Microsoft _________________________________________________________________ [ Index | News | World | Biz | Tech | Politic | Sport | Scoreboard | Entertain | Health ] _________________________________________________________________ Reuters Limited Questions or Comments