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CSSPAB Resolutions


From: David Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>
Date: Tue, 7 Sep 1993 08:59:30 -0500


September 3, 1993

MEMORANDUM FOR Members of the Computer System Security and
              Privacy Advisory Board

From:  Ed Roback, Acting Board Secretary

Subject:  September 1993 Resolutions

Attached for your information are the two resolution passed by
the Board yesterday.  Please let me know if you find any errors
or disagreements with this text.   Thank you.  

Attachments

- ------------------------

NON-CERTIFIED TEXT


      COMPUTER SYSTEM SECURITY AND PRIVACY ADVISORY BOARD

                        RESOLUTION 93-5

                      September 1-2, 1993


Subsequent to the June 2-4, 1993 meeting of the CSSPAB, the Board
has held an additional 4 days of public hearings and has
collected additional public input.

The clear message is that the preliminary concerns stated in
Resolution 1 of that date have been confirmed as serious concerns
which need to be resolved.

Public input has heightened the concerns of the Board to the
following issues:

    -    A convincing statement of the problem that Clipper
         attempts to solve has not been provided. 

    -    Export and import controls over cryptographic products
         must be reviewed.  Based upon data compiled from U.S.
         and international vendors, current controls are
         negatively impacting U.S. competitiveness in the world
         market and are not inhibiting the foreign production
         and use of cryptography (DES and RSA).

    -    The Clipper/Capstone proposal does not address the
         needs of the software industry, which is a critical and
         significant component of the National Information
         Infrastructure and the U.S. economy.

    -    Additional DES encryption alternatives and key
         management alternatives should be considered since
         there is a significant installed base.  

    -    The individuals reviewing the Skipjack algorithm and
         key management system must be given an appropriate time
         period and environment in which to perform a thorough
         review.  This review must address the escrow protocol
         and chip implementation as well as the algorithm
         itself.    

    -    Sufficient information must be provided on the proposed
         key escrow scheme to allow it to be fully understood by
         the general public.  

    -    Further development and consideration of alternatives
         to the key escrow scheme need to be considered, e.g.,
         three "escrow" entities, one of which is a non-
         government agency, and a software based solution.  

    -    The economic implications for the Clipper/Capstone
         proposal have not been examined.  These costs go beyond
         the vendor cost of the chip and include such factors as
         customer installation, maintenance, administration,
         chip replacement, integration and interfacing,
         government escrow system costs, etc.  

    -    Legal issues raised by the proposal must be reviewed.

    -    Congress, as well as the Administration, should play a
         role in the conduct and approval of the results of the
         review.  

Moreover, the following are additional concerns of the Board:

    -    Implementation of the Clipper initiative may negatively
         impact the availability of cost-effective security
         products to the U.S. Government and the private sector;

    and

    -    Clipper products may not be marketable or usable
         worldwide.

    
FOR:      Castro, Gangemi, Lambert, Lipner, Kuyers, Philcox,
         Rand, Walker, Whitehurst, and Zeitler

AGAINST:  none

ABSTAIN:  Gallagher

ABSENT:   Colvin
- --------------------------------
NON-CERTIFIED TEXT


      COMPUTER SYSTEM SECURITY AND PRIVACY ADVISORY BOARD

                        RESOLUTION 93-6

                      SEPTEMBER 1-2, 1993

The Board believes that in deciding cryptographic policies and
standards in the U.S., there is a compelling need to consider and
evaluate the concerns listed below.  We, therefore, endorse the
process being pursued by the administration in the form of an
interagency review but believe the scope of that review needs to
include adequate industry input.  We reaffirm our recommendation
(of March 1992) that the issues surrounding this policy be
debated in a public forum.  In view of the worldwide significance
of these issues the Board believes that the Congress of the U.S.
must be involved in the establishment of cryptographic policy.  

The Board, furthermore, believes that there are a number of
issues that must be resolved before any new or additional
cryptographic solution is approved as a U.S. government standard:

    1.   The protection of law enforcement and national security
         interests;

    2.   The protection of U.S. computer and telecommunication
         interests in the international marketplace; and 

    3.   The protection of U.S. persons' interests both
         domestically and internationally. 

FOR:      Castro, Gallagher, Gangemi, Lambert, Lipner, Kuyers,
         Philcox, Rand, Walker, Whitehurst, and Zeitler

AGAINST:  none

ABSTAIN:  none

ABSENT:   Colvin




...................................................................
          **** NOTE NEW STREET ADDRESS AND PHONE #s ****


Daniel J. Weitzner, Senior Staff Counsel
Electronic Frontier Foundation
1001 G St, NW
Suite 950 East
Washington, DC 20001
202-347-5400 (v) 
202-393-5509 (f)


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