IP: INTERNET PRIVACY COALITION FORMED

[Dave Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>]

PRESS RELEASE


Wednesday, April 24, 1996


URL: http://www.privacy.org/ipc/


Contact:  Marc Rotenberg, EPIC, 202/544-9240
          Lori Fena, EFF, 415/436-9333
          Barbara Simons, USACM 408/463-5661
          RSA, 415/595-8782


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                     INTERNET PRIVACY COALITION FORMED


                        Golden Key Campaign Launched


           Groups Urge Good Technology for Privacy and Security


                  Senator Burns to Introduce Legislation


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WASHINGTON, DC -- A new coalition today urged support for strong
technologies to protect privacy and security on the rapidly growing
Internet. The Internet Privacy Coalition said that new technologies were
critical to protect private communications and on-line commerce, and
recommended relaxation of export controls that limit the ability of US
firms to incorporate encryption in commercial products.


Phil Zimmermann, author of the popular encryption program Pretty Good
Privacy, expressed support for the effort of the new coalition. "It is
time to change crypto policy in the United States. I urge those who
favor good tools for privacy to back the efforts of the Internet Privacy
Coalition."


GOLDEN KEY CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED


The Coalition has asked companies and Internet users to display a golden
key and envelope to show support for strong encryption technology.
Copies of the logo are available at the group's web page on the
Internet.


According to Lori Fena, director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation,
the purpose of the campaign is to educate the public about new
techniques for privacy protection. "Society's feelings about privacy
have not changed, only the medium has," said Ms. Fena.


US industry has pressed the US government to relax export controls on
encryption as consumer demand for software products has increased. They
cite the fact that foreign companies have been able to sell strong
products in overseas markets that are now restricted for US firms.


Jim Bidzos, President and CEO of RSA Data Security, said that US firms
continue to face excessive burdens. "Encryption is the key to on-line
commerce.  Government regulations are simply keeping US firms out of
important markets."


The Internet Privacy Coalition is the first net-based attempt to bring
together
a broad base of companies, cryptographers and public interest
organizations around the central goal of promoting privacy and security
on the Internet and urging relaxation of export controls.


Dr. Barbara Simons, chair of the public policy committee of the
Association for Computing said, "The broad support for the Golden Key
campaign shows that the reform of encryption policy is a shared goal for
companies, users, and professional associations."


SENATOR BURNS TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION


The Internet Privacy Coalition is being established as Congress
considers new legislation to relax export controls on encryption.
Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT) today introduced legislation that would
relax export controls on commercial products containing technologies for
privacy such as encryption.


Marc Rotenberg, director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center,
said "We believe that Senator Burns has put forward a constructive
proposal. We look forward to working with him to ensure that good tools
for privacy and security are widely available to Internet users."


Hearings on Senator Burns bill are expected to take place in early June.
The proposal has already gathered support from a bipartisan coalition in
Congress.


For Internet users who are interested in following the debate about
encryption policy, the IPC has set up a Web page with information about
encryption regulations, court challenges, legislative developments, and
organizations and companies involved in the campaign.


The Internet Privacy Coalition was established by more than a dozen of
the nation's leading cryptographers, and thirty associations, companies,
and civil liberties organizations committed to strong privacy and
security technology for all users of the Internet.


                    URL: http://www.privacy.org/ipc/


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A KEY, AN ENVELOPE -- Both are historic means for communicating
privately and protecting personal information.  Today, encryption tools
provide this privacy in the electronic world.


The Golden Key Campaign is being launched to raise awareness and support
for the preservation of the right to communicate privately and the
availability of new techniques which make it possible.


Privacy, a fundamental human right, has been affirmed by the US Supreme
Court, the constitutions and laws of many countries, and the United
Nations  Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  Privacy must be
preserved as we move from paper to electronic communications.


The Internet Privacy Coalition is urging members of the net community to
display a Golden Key & Envelope symbol on their Web pages to show
support for the right of privacy and the freedom to use good tools of
privacy without government restraints.