Clipper Chip retreat

[bill.stewart@pleasantonca.ncr.com +1-510-484-6204]

Rick writes:
>     From: "david d `zoo' zuhn" <zoo at monad.armadillo.com>
>        The administration is willing to consider alternatives to
>        Clipper that are based upon nonclassified algrithms, and where
>        the escrow agents are not government agencies.
>     Hmm.  If the escrow agent isn't a government entity, then what sort of
>     coercion will they have over that agent in order to get the keys in a
>     timely fashion?
> 
> My guess is that this means that a ``quasi-government corporation''
> would be acceptable to the administration.  In other words, they're
> willing to play word games in an attempt to placate people as long as
> they get what they were after in the first place.

You don't need the Post Office or Federal Reserve to do it;
banks are perfectly good at keeping information mostly private
and giving it to the government when they want it - they do that
with your financial records now, assuming you use US banks.
They may also be in the business of providing genuine key escrow
for people who want it, e.g. backup copies of corporate data and keys,
as well as government keymaster subcontracting.

Phone companies could also do the job, but if the Information Superhighway
has Information Police running speed traps like Louis Freeh wants,
or Friendly Platform-Opening Regulacrats like some other folks want,
they'll be cooperative enough about keeping their own copies of the keys
in case they're subpoenaed.

			Bill