[1496] in linux-security and linux-alert archive
[linux-security] Re: UK Encryption ban legislation {from: [comp.risks] RISKS DIGEST 18.95}
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jeff Uphoff)
Wed Apr 2 02:47:09 1997
Date: Tue, 1 Apr 1997 10:47:43 -0500
From: Jeff Uphoff <juphoff@tarsier.cv.nrao.edu>
To: R.E.Wolff@BitWizard.nl (Rogier Wolff)
Cc: terrylr@edgar.blauedonau.com (Terry L. Ridder), bugtraq@crimelab.com,
linux-security@redhat.com
In-Reply-To: Your message of Tue, April 1, 1997 13:09:36 +0200
Reply-To: juphoff@nrao.edu
Resent-From: linux-security@redhat.com
"RW" == Rogier Wolff <R.E.Wolff@BitWizard.nl> writes:
>> I further wonder what hand the [.... CIA]
>> and [.... NSA] have in this.
RW> My guess is "nothing". Really. Here in Holland the government got in
RW> gear to pass an "encryption is illegal" bill a few years ago. The
RW> law was written by someone who clearly didn't understand the issues.
RW> Someone found out and a big protest was arranged. It was cancelled.
RW>
RW> Similarly, it seems that the English have gotten someone who simply
RW> thinks "Bad guys can use encryption, lets make it illegal" to write
RW> that law. It seems they sneaked it along a few legislative hurldles
RW> before the masses found out.
RW>
RW> I think it is more a case of incompetetence and not of actual "we want
RW> to be able to tap everything" motives.
RW>
RW> Roger.
I tend to agree with Rogier, both for the reason(s) he stated and for
another: from some of the rumblings that I've heard here in the US, it
may well be the case that domestic law enforcement concerns (DOJ/FBI et
al.) have much more to do with this sort of legislation than the
"classic" national security related agencies.
The NSA, for instance, is quite knowledgeable about encryption (a
whopping understatement); many "movers and shakers" there are no doubt
quite aware that *everyone* that wants strong encryption now has it, and
that domestic legislation to try and keep it under control for national
security purposes is an exercise in futility.
The domestic law enforcement crowd (e.g. Department of Justice), on the
other hand, is relatively new to this game; they appear to think that
the genie can still be stuffed back into the bottle through legislation.
(I just don't think that the NSA is that naive.)
--Up.
