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US Dept of Commerce Statement on Wassenaar Changes...



Demnächst darf dann wohl nur noch Software mit 64-Bit-Schlüsseln
exportiert werden.

Was heißt das für Sourcecode und für compilierte Programme, die keine
Krypto-Funktionalität enthalten, aber eine Verschlüsselungs-DLL
aufrufen? In den USA ist all das verboten. Droht uns so etwas jetzt
auch?

----- Forwarded message from David Banisar <banisar@epic.org> -----

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
Commerce News

International Trade Administration

Washington, DC

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, December 3, 1998

Contact:  Maria Harris Tildon
	  (202)482-3809
	  Sue Hofer
	  (202)482-2721

P R E S S  S T A T E M E N T

U.S. Applauds Agreement on Encryption in International Export Control Regime

Vienna, Austria -- The United States welcomed the decision taken Thursday
in Vienna by the 33 members of the Wassenaar Arrangement to modernize and
improve multilateral encryption export controls.  Ambassador David Aaron,
the President's Special Envoy for Cryptology, said that "the international
agreement reached here goes a long way toward leveling the playing field
for exporters and promoting electornic commerce.  It provides countries
with a stronger regulatory framework to protect national security and
public safety."

The agreement caps a two year effort by the United States, to update
international encryption export controls and to balance commercial and
privacy interests with national security and public safety concerns. 
Thursday's agreement simplifies and streamlines controls on many encryption
items and eliminates multilateral reporting requirements.  Specific
improvements to multilateral encryption controls include removing controls
on all encryption products at or below 56 bit and certain consumer
entertainment TV systems, such as DVD products, and on cordless telephone
systems designed for home or office use.

Wassenaar members also agreed to extend controls to mass-market encryption
above 64 bits, thus closing a significant loophole in multilateral
encryption controls.  This gives Wassenaar member governments the legal
authority to license many mass market encryption software exports which
were previously not covered by multilateral controls and enables
governments to review the dissemination of the strongest encryption
products that might fall into the hands of rogue end users.   The new
controls also extend liberalized mass-market hardware below 64 bits.  Until
today, only mass-market software products enjoyed this liberalized
treatment.

"The decisions taken here in Vienna reinforce the Administration's efforts
to promote a balanced encryption policy," Aaron confirmed.