U.S. Government Fears Criminal Encryption

EDI NEWS. The U.S. Government is concerned
with the possibility that exported encryption software will be used
to shield criminal or terrorist activities. According to Rosemary
Warren, a director of Congressional and public relations at the
Commerce Department, the government is allowing the export of some
encryption software during a twoyear period begun last November.
Meanwhile a permanent system is developed that permits the U.S.
Government to obtain a court order for recovery of encryption keys
when there is suspicion of criminal activity veiled by encryption.

Warren emphasizes that the administration is not in favor of the
government actually holding the keys, but would like to see the
creation of a commercial thirdparty that would act as a key
repository.

Critics point out that in many parts of the world, strong
encryption is already freely available, which puts U.S. companies at
a competitive disadvantage. Young says Premenos would prefer to
export encryption software with no restriction, but the exception
allowing it to export 168bit keys is an intermediate step through
which its customers can have robust encryption now.

The administration's lawenforcement concerns are not legitimate,
says Sharri Steele, staff attorney for the Washingtonbased
Electronic Frontier Foundation.

The fact that encryption software might make it more difficult for
law enforcement officials to carry out an investigation is not reason
enough for the U.S. people to give up basic constitutional rights,
she says, adding that while freedoms might be more difficult for
police, they are worth it. (Sharri Steele, EFF, 301/3758856; Rebecca
Young, Premenos 510/602 2000.)

[Copyright 1997, Phillips Publishing]