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

[E. ALLEN SMITH]

From:	IN%"unicorn at schloss.li"  "Black Unicorn" 24-MAY-1996 15:07:57.78
>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.

>Insurance.

	Hmm.... what were the normal key-length recommendations again? This
appears to imply that the NSA can break at least 64-bit, and probably 80-bit,
encryption. How does this translate into public key lengths? E.g., how many
normal bits is a 1024-bit PGP key equivalent to?
	-Allen