IP: No choice perfect on encryption

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

Date: Sun, 17 Jan 1999 15:07:23 -0800 (PST)
From: Dan Gillmor <dgillmor () sjmercury com>
To: Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>

http://www.sjmercury.com/columnists/gillmor/docs/dg011699.htm

GILLMOR: No choice perfect on encryption


IN a society where compromise is a pillar of government, it feels almost
un-American to admit that some issues defy any middle ground. It feels
even worse when there are only two alternatives, and both offer unpleasant
consequences.

This is the reality of encryption, the scrambling of data to keep it away
from prying eyes. Yet at a time when it's essential to hold an honest
debate about a difficult decision, encryption policy drifts in a Twilight
Zone where both sides tend to avoid acknowledging some hard truths.

Security in the Digital Age is at the heart of the matter. Both sides are
talking about your security, but their perspectives could hardly be more
divergent.