From: Declan McCullagh <declan@pathfinder.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Sep 1997 20:28:08 +0800
To: Tim May <tcmay@got.net>
Subject: Re: FBI calls for mandatory key escrow; Denning on export ctrls
In-Reply-To: <v03102803b033e4efd9b4@[207.167.93.63]>
Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.95.970904081606.24851A-100000@cp.pathfinder.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain



Freeh did not mention banning existing programs. He did, however, talk
about restricting what was distributed, sold, and imported.

Even so, it only takes one intrepid staffer to add a word to the bill that
would include an "or possessed" clause in it. A "per se" rule against
crypto!

-Declan


On Wed, 3 Sep 1997, Tim May wrote:

> As I understand what Freeh said, not even he is talking about banning
> existing programs. Rather, he's talking about requiring the "capability" be
> added to Internet programs (presumably browsers, mail programs, etc.). It's
> obvious that one could use an old word processor, editor, PGP, etc., and
> then paste the text into the Freeh-approved Internet program. What would
> the status be of this?
> 
> (In other words, it would be a truly draconian move to try to ban all
> encrypted messages.)