From: Steve Mynott <stevem@tightrope.demon.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 18:02:02 +0800
To: ukcrypto@maillist.ox.ac.uk
Subject: Re: Escrow - news
In-Reply-To: <E0zehqH-00004N-00@heaton.cl.cam.ac.uk>
Message-ID: <19981116092031.A3359@tightrope.demon.co.uk>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain



cc: added to cypherpunks

On Sat, Nov 14, 1998 at 03:42:26PM +0000, Ross Anderson wrote:

> On his most recent speaking tour of Europe, at which he promoted 
> PGP v 6, Phil Zimmermann assured us categorically that NAI had at
> his insistence withdrawn from the KRA.
> 
> It now appears that either (1) he lied to us (2) he was himself
> lied to by NAI management or (3) NAI has rejoined.

I assume you are refering to the meeting at Cambridge University that
you chaired.

My subjective impressions of that meeting were that PZ was certainly
sincere.  I seem to recall he told us that he was unware NAI had even
orginally been a member of KRA until he was telephoned by a journalist
in his car and was opposed to this.  Presumably this was before NAI
bought TIS and rejoined (?)

I would add an option

(4) PZ didn't know -- cockup not conspiracy

But all this leads to a lack of confidence in the future of the PGP product,
which is too precious to be left in the hands of one (American) company,
whose policy is in doubt.

I  am not currently convinced by their actions that NAI are
serious about strong crypto and I believe that a truly free and open
version of PGP (GPG?) would be superior.

-- 
1024/D9C69DF9 steve mynott steve@tightrope.demon.co.uk http://www.pineal.com/

    i would rather have my ignorance than another man's knowledge, because
i have got so much more of it.  -- mark twain