Layman's explanation for limits on escrowed encryption ...

[jim bell]

At 11:47 AM 5/24/96 -0400, Black Unicorn wrote:
>On Wed, 22 May 1996, Ernest Hua wrote:
>
>> Could someone with some knowledge of NSA/DoS/FBI intentions please
>> explain why key length limitations are necessary for escrowed
>> encryption?
>
>To deal with the possibility that someone might slip through the cracks of
>the escrow process.

However, this escrow process is claimed to be _voluntary._  And good, 
non-escrowed encryption already exists today, outside the US.  It won't be 
"slipping through the cracks," it'll be like opening the floodgates.  So the 
question is still open:  Why key-length limitations on export?

Jim Bell
jimbell at pacifier.com