From: Declan McCullagh <declan@pathfinder.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Sep 1997 07:09:29 +0800
To: Tim May <tcmay@got.net>
Subject: Re: Nightmare Scenario: Public Key Distribution Controlled
In-Reply-To: <v03102805b04065bf320b@[207.167.93.63]>
Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.95.970913190120.27447A-100000@cp.pathfinder.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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This proposal is perhaps the most terrifying thing I've read. Mostly
because such a proposal could pass quite easily by a small change -- one
sentence -- to the definition of "cryptographic product" in a bill.

You can bet that members of Congress would vote for it, too.

-Declan


On Sat, 13 Sep 1997, Tim May wrote:

> Sure, underground use will continue. And those with PGP, and keys, may well
> have  a reasonable defense in court, arguing that the program *and* the
> keys they used were already in their possession prior to the effective date
> of the legislation.
> 
> But the effect would be chilling to almost any normal use of these programs.
> 
> This is my latest nightmare scenario.