http://www.theaustralian.com.au/techno/4278505.htm
Leaders back US limits on encryption By DAN TEBBUTT
8dec98
A PUSH led by the United States to curtail the spread of unbreakable computer-communications technologies has picked up momentum at a meeting in Vienna.
Thirty-three leading nations, including Australia, agreed to impose restrictions on mass-market encryption products.
The move went hand-in-hand with decisions that deregulated weaker forms of encryption and removed controls over purely consumer technologies, such as DVD and cordless telephones.
The US Government hailed the changes as a victory, as it had lobbied other countries to embrace its restrictive stance on encryption.
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No decision was made about regulating intangible distribution of technology, such as Internet downloads.
It was not clear if the new restrictions were intended to stop public-domain software, such as the popular e-mail security package, PGP.
Although Australia prohibited unlicensed export of public-domain encryption software, the Wassenaar treaty provided an exemption.
A Canadian source confirmed public-domain software would remain unregulated even after the clampdown on mass-market products.
The Wassenaar revisions require local legislation by each member nation.
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