IP: two relevant comments on crypto issue -- This is 1997 but

[David Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

To: farber () cis upenn edu
From: Steve Crocker <crocker () cybercash com>
Subject: Revisionist history


Dave,


The new SAFE bill language has a surreal quality.  Suppose this had been
the law of the land for the past several decades.  How many of the Hoover
era FBI crimes, e.g. COINTEL, and how many of the Nixon era crimes would
have been either legal or unnecessary?  I mean "unnecessary" in the sense
that the government would have been able to accomplish the same thing
through more direct means.  Perhaps this will lead to a revision of history
in which Hoover and Nixon are seen as merely ahead of their times.


Steve




----------------------------------
Steve Crocker                                   Desk:  +1 703 716 5214
CyberCash, Inc.                                 Main:  +1 703 620 4200
2100 Reston Parkway                             Fax:   +1 703 620 4215
Reston, VA 20191                                crocker () cybercash com


To: farber () cis upenn edu
From: "Richard J. Solomon" <rjs () rpcp mit edu>
Subject: Re: IP: The details == House Committee Passes Domestic Crypto  
 Controls


Are we prepared for a world with completely insecure communications,
including all financial transactions, bidding procedures, medical records
of high government officials, judges, police, and indeed, all government
communications as well? All you have to do is know whom to bribe. Certainly
changes the meaning of free markets.


Richard