From: Chester Edelman <coe@panix.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 93 10:21:33 PST
To: wex@media.mit.edu
Subject: The Republic of Desire (anonymous organizations)
In-Reply-To: <9311181704.AA21053@media.mit.edu>
Message-ID: <199311181816.AA01206@panix.com>
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> Date: Thu, 18 Nov 93 12:04:51 -0500
> From: "Alan (Gesture Man) Wexelblat" <wex@media.mit.edu>
>
> This is kind of off-topic, but I thought the classic three-person cell was
> as follows:
>
>				   A
>				  / \
>				 B - C
>				/     \
>			       D       G
>			      / \     / \
>			     E - F   H - I
>
> where a line shows cell membership.  So A commands a cell of himself, B and
> C but knows no one below.  A is either the leader, or is known by one member
> above.  B knows D is the leader of another cell, but does not know who E and
> F are (or even if they exist).  Similarly for C.
>
> This organization is vulnerable in two ways: any one person can give up
> three others; and the chain can be followed (e.g. compromising B can lead to
> compromising D and then to E, etc.).  Because information has to flow
> between the cells, there is potential for compromise.
>
> I can't think of a way around this problem.  If information flows from B to
> E, either B must know of E's existence or non-existence.

See R. A. Heinleins's ``Moon is a Harsh Mistress'' for some discussion
of this topic.
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Chet Edelman "Truth is a blanket that leaves your feet out in the cold" D.P.S.
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