From: "Jean-Francois Avon" <jf_avon@citenet.net>
Date: Fri, 27 Sep 1996 15:18:08 +0800
To: Declan McCullagh <declan@eff.org>
Subject: Re: Hallam-Baker demands more repudiations or he'll write!
Message-ID: <9609270422.AA06397@cti02.citenet.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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On 26 Sep 96 at 16:51, Declan McCullagh wrote:

> Anonymity and nonescrowed crypto are the linchpins of AP and its
> more general case, Maysian crypto anarchy. The withering of the
> nation-state. Whatever you want to call it.
> 
> To prevent it, governments will ban both. A criminal law, passed in
> the wake of say a bombing this fall in Washington, DC, banning
> nonescrowed crypto. (Freeh will assert he has evidence the
> terrorists used PGPhone.) And another law banning online anonymity. 

I agree with the prediction but the cause will probably not be AP.  
AP could probably be run from BBS and direct link over a very 
informal and loose network made out of individual modem connections.  
I think it is very unlikely it would get succesfully stopped.  It 
could even be run from physically exchanged diskettes.  It would run 
slowly, but still, it would run.

OTOH, the "Maysian" crypto anarchy will be a much more immediate
problem to govts.  "L'argent est le nerf de la guerre",or, loosely
translated:  "money is war's fuel" as we say...  When they start 
getting financially starved, they'll have to increase taxation but 
the population already have them in very low esteem...

AP, with a properly structured media campaing, will make govts
heroes, Maysian anarchy will make them seen as looters.

Did I put my foot in my mouth again?

> What then, Mr. Bell?
> 
> -Declan

> // declan@eff.org // I do not represent the EFF // declan@well.com
Jean-Francois Avon, Montreal QC Canada
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