From: Vipul Ved Prakash <vipul@pobox.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 1997 17:52:51 +0800
To: aba@dcs.ex.ac.uk
Subject: Don't ask for permission
In-Reply-To: <199709012034.VAA07567@server.test.net>
Message-ID: <199709041956.TAA00441@fountainhead.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text



Adam Back wrote:

> Depends on your definition of openly.  Jerome Thorel, at the time a
> French free-lance journalist, interviewed the head of SCSSI, he asked
> "can individuals use PGP?" and the answer was "if you asked us for
> permission we'd say no, but if you use it we won't do anything about
> it".  Jerome had this revelvation as his .sig for a while.

Exactly what happens in India. Dont ask for permission, ask for 
forgiveness. The govt doesn't want to sanction it. This could 
be becuase they might want to declare usage illegal at a latter time, 
or currently dont have the infrastructure to tap into people's 
communication, or the investment in such infrastructure is 
not justified at this time or they realize how entirely stupid 
it would be to legally restrict crypto usage. Whatever such 
a stand implies it manages to keep venture capitalists away from 
crypto products. 

best,
Vipul

-- 

Vipul Ved Prakash                 | - Electronic Security & Crypto 
vipul@pobox.com 	          | - Web Objects 
91 11 2233328                     | - PERL Development 
198 Madhuban IP Extension         | - Linux & Open Systems 
Delhi, INDIA 110 092              | - Networked Virtual Spaces