From: alt1@snowhill.com (Al Thompson)
Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 14:25:12 +0800
To: Frederick Burroughs <cypherpunks@ns.minder.net>
Subject: Re: Reno and Freeh talking about Crypto and "Terrorism"
Message-ID: <199804010619.AAA02675@frost.snowhill.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain



At 09:45 PM 3/31/98 -0500, Frederick Burroughs wrote:
>Obviously the Justice Dept. requires a few big busts involving crypto.
>The case should be one in which the perpetrators attempt to cover their
>misdeeds behind strong crypto. An informant will be needed to allow
>"plausible deniability". That is, Justice will say, "If not for the
>informant, we would have never been able to access the encrypted
>evidence.  We can't depend on informants, we need better access." The
>crime should resonate abhorrent  with the public, child prostitution
>ring, illegal dumping of hazardous waste, securities fraud against
>retirees, something that will generate a lot of letters to Congress. In
>the light of these pending realities, Congress will be all too willing
>to give out keys to the backdoor.
  
Don't forget the more obvious: an "impending terrorist attack by crazed gun 
owners who are outraged by reasonable restrictions on firearms."