[403] in cryptography@c2.net mail archive
Re: Dorothy and the four Horseman
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Arnold G. Reinhold)
Fri Mar 21 14:05:53 1997
In-Reply-To: <m0w7x1A-000S00C@laptop.ka9q.ampr.org>
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 10:45:58 -0400
To: karn@qualcomm.com
From: "Arnold G. Reinhold" <reinhold@world.std.com>
Cc: cryptography@c2.net
I wrote:
>>I've always wondered why some law enforcement organization (or newspaper,
>>for that matter) doesn't publish a PGP public key for use by people who
>>want to submit tips on criminal activities without fear of interception.
>
Phil Karn <karn@laptop.ka9q.ampr.org> replied:
>Me too. On a panel session at CFP a few years ago, I publicly invited
>Ron Lee of the NSA to give me a PGP key that I could sign. This would
>enable the use of truly voluntary key escrow for anyone who wanted to
>participate -- all they'd have to do is include NSA's key on the
>crypto recipient list. Ron declined.
>
>More seriously, shortly after TWA flight 800 went down, I sent email
>to James Kallstrom suggesting that he publish a PGP key in case
>someone wanted to make a confidential tip to the FBI. Since we had
>already met in person, I offered to sign the key. He responded with a
>nice, polite note, declining the offer.
>
>Phil
This is a good issue to push publically. It is a strong counter to the
argument that encryption is only for criminals. "Here is a new tool for law
enforcement and yet the FBI declined it."
Reuters reported this week that the administration will propose an
encryption bill that asserts the right of US citizens to use strong crypto
domestically. So there is no reason why federal law enforcement agencies
shouldn't publish public keys. Indeed a requirement that they do so ought
to be added to the pro-code bill now before Congress.
Local law enforcement agencies should be contacted as well. It would be a
public relations coup for the first agency to publish a key.
Arnold Reinhold
