IP: dejavu -- Hijackers' e-mails were unencrypted

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Date: Wed, 03 Oct 2001 16:35:32 -0700
> From: Ed Gerck <egerck () nma com>
> To: Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>
> Subject: dejavu -- Hijackers' e-mails were unencrypted
>
> Dave:
>
> With all due respect to the need for IP'ers to vent our fears, may
> I remind this list that we have all seen this before (that is, governments
> trying to control crypto), from key-escrow to GAK, and we all
> know that it will not work -- and for many reasons.  A main one
> IMO is that it is simply impossible to prevent anyone from
> sending an encrypted message to anyone else except by
> controlling the receivers and the transmitters (as done in WWII,
> for example). Since controlling receivers and transmitters is
> now really impossible, all one can do is control routing and
> addresses.
>
> I suggest this would be a much more efficient way to reduce the
> misuse of our communication networks. For example, if one email
> address under surveillance receives email from X, Y and Z, then
> X, Y and Z will also be added to the surveillance. Even if
> everything is encrypted, people and computers can be verified.
>
> In addition, we also need to avoid to add fuel to that misconception,
> that  encryption is somehow  "dangerous" or should be controlled
> as weapons are. The only function of a weapon is to inflict harm.
> The only function of encryption is to  provide privacy.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Ed Gerck



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