From: Declan McCullagh <declan@pathfinder.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Jun 1997 01:15:58 +0800
To: Tim May <tcmay@got.net>
Subject: Re: Netscape Security Flaw is a Feature
In-Reply-To: <v03102802afc67bb040fb@[207.167.93.63]>
Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.95.970613111747.13113H-100000@cp.pathfinder.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain




On Thu, 12 Jun 1997, Tim May wrote:

> According to Netscape spokesmen, this feature was added to the kernel of
> Mosaic, then Navigator, in 1993, as part of the Clipper Key Recovery
> Program. As James Clarke put it an interview tonight on MSNBC, "Dorothy
> Denning asked us to insert the "remote read" capabilities to ensure that
> the legitimate needs of law enforcement are met. No person cruising the Web
> has any expectation of privacy, as even Declan McCullagh has pointed out."

Tim misrepresents my position, or does not understand it. I did not say
that. Rather, I argued that you have no "right of privacy" that allows you
generally to restrict the right of others to gossip, trade, or otherwise
share information about you. Such a rule would violate their rights of
free speech.

Like Marc, I hope there is still some role for truth in the debate about
privacy issues. 

-Declan