IP: Crypto News Flash (fwd)

[Bill Stewart]

>From: "Michael Froomkin - U.Miami School of Law"
>              <froomkin at LAW.MIAMI.EDU>
>Subject:      IP: Crypto News Flash (fwd)
>To: CYBERIA-L at LISTSERV.AOL.COM
>
>Amazing if true.  Part of my amazement is that Sen. Kerry, who I think of
>as somewhat moderate if not somewhat liberal, would be a party to this.

...
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Thu, 08 May 1997 12:51:01 -0400
>From: David Farber <farber at cis.upenn.edu>
>Subject: IP: Crypto News Flash
>
>
>CyberWire Dispatch // Copyright (c) 1997 // May 1997
>
>Jacking in from the "Take My Crypto, Please" port:
>
>Washington, DC--A new anti-crypto bill now floating around Washington
>would place restrictions on the import of strong crypto products into the
>U.S. and possibly outlaw the use of non-government approved encryption
>products.
>
>During a morning briefing at the Capitol,  Sen. Bob Kerry
>(D-Neb.), talking about his impending new crypto bill, which he will call
>the "Secure Public Interest Act" said that the bill WILL include
>IMPORT restrictions on crypto software.
>
>Incredible.  We've heard rumblings the folks behind crypto strangling
>efforts would jump to import controls on crypto software if key escrow
>weren't widely adopted.
>
>Restricting imports, of course, is a kind of de facto domestic
>restriction as well.  It  means that companies can't import strong
>foreign made crypto products to use in their worldwide offices, forcing
>them to use the govt. mandated weaker crypto products.
>
>Next step:  outlawing some domestic crypto products.
>
>Kerry, when asked if there would be restrictions on private encryption,
>said "I don't envision that at the outset, but it might end up in the bill."
>
>Meeks out...
>
>

#			Thanks;  Bill
# Bill Stewart, +1-415-442-2215 stewarts at ix.netcom.com
# You can get PGP outside the US at ftp.ox.ac.uk/pub/crypto/pgp
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