[48224] in Cypherpunks
Re: weak cryptoanarchy
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Timothy C. May)
Fri Jan 26 21:29:20 1996
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 1996 19:49:52 -0800
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
From: tcmay@got.net (Timothy C. May)
At 1:14 AM 1/27/96, Anonymous wrote:
>I think a better prediction for the implications of strong
>crypto is what I would call "weak cryptoanarchy." That is,
>cryptography will allow virtual communities the option to exist
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>without the possibility of inteference by force. Certainly some
>virtual communities, such as moderated discussion groups, will
>opt to have formal or informal governments. The key is that
>people will have the choice of participating in communities
>where physical violence will be absolutely powerless.
>
>Stated in this form, cryptoanarchy is hardly controversial.
>Plus, this weak form of cryptoanarchy has a much better chance
>of being realized, because it does not require the collapse of
>existing governments, only the creation of new communities
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>without governments.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The paper which Prof. Denning was responding to was my paper, "Crypto
Anarchy and Virtual Communities." Seems like I anticipated your point.
--Tim May
Boycott espionage-enabled software!
We got computers, we're tapping phone lines, we know that that ain't allowed.
---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:----
Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money,
tcmay@got.net 408-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero
W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA | knowledge, reputations, information markets,
Higher Power: 2^756839 - 1 | black markets, collapse of governments.
"National borders aren't even speed bumps on the information superhighway."
