From: Tim May <tcmay@got.net>
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 05:02:28 +0800
To: cypherpunks@Algebra.COM
Subject: Re: Talk of Banning Research into Human Cloning
In-Reply-To: <v03102800b0e02a107673@[207.167.93.63]>
Message-ID: <v03102801b0e032b37e03@[207.167.93.63]>
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At 12:32 PM -0800 1/12/98, Tim May wrote:

>Only a very few types of research are banned. And these are all ostensibly
>"national security" areas. Namely, chemical and biological warfare
>research, heavily regulated (private companies can do such research, but
>only with government approval, supervision, and generally _for_ the
>government). And nuclear weapons research (probably as part of the Atomic
>Energy Act).
>
>(If anyone can think of other "bans on research," besides weapons areas,
>let me know.)

Before others point this out, there are certain types of "public safety"
laws about what one can research or do. Laws about explosives, dangerous
chemicals, and pathogens.

(The "ban on recombinant DNA research," following the Asilomar Conference
in 1975, was a voluntary ban, and thus not a ban in the sense I am using
here. And it last only a couple of years, until more could be learned about
the potential danges of recombinant DNA work.)

Please respond to my main points, if you respond at all, not to these side
points.

--Tim May

The Feds have shown their hand: they want a ban on domestic cryptography
---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:----
Timothy C. May              | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money,
ComSec 3DES:   408-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero
W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA  | knowledge, reputations, information markets,
Higher Power: 2^2,976,221   | black markets, collapse of governments.
"National borders aren't even speed bumps on the information superhighway."