FC: New don't-ask-don't-tell encryption policy

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

*********

http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,33651,00.html

                       Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell Encryption
                       by Declan McCullagh (declan () wired com)

                       3:00 a.m. 14.Jan.2000 PST
                       WASHINGTON -- If there's one lawsuit
                       the US government would dearly like to
                       see vanish, it's the case of Bernstein v.
                       Department of Commerce.

                       The suit, which began with graduate
                       student Daniel Bernstein's earnest desire
                       to post a simple computer program to the
                       sci.crypt Usenet newsgroup in 1992,
                       threatens to topple an imposing colossus
                       of government rules that regulate
                       privacy-protecting encryption products.
                       Suffice it to say that's not an outcome
                       that law enforcement or national security
                       officials would applaud.

                       So it's no coincidence that those cunning
                       Justice Department lawyers may have
                       found a way to get rid of the suit.

                       This week's announcement by the Clinton
                       administration that it was changing
                       current encryption regulations gives
                       government attorneys additional
                       ammunition to use in court against the
                       Bernstein lawyers.

                       [...snip...]



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