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U.S.: Report Says Privacy Challenges Are Significant

http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/00/03/biztech/articles/10privacy.html

March 10, 2000

Report Says Privacy Challenges Are Significant

By JOEL BRINKLEY

WASHINGTON, March 9 -- The Clinton administration published a report on online security and privacy today, noting that law enforcement authorities face significant new challenges keeping up with criminals in cyberspace.

But as Attorney General Janet Reno, one of the authors, released the report, she said she believed that existing laws were adequate for addressing the problems for the most part. And where new laws or regulations are needed, she added, the government will consult with industry representatives before deciding how to proceed.

"Let us discuss those" issues, Ms. Reno said. "Let us understand what the balances are. Let us sit down with industry."

Even before those discussions have begun, the American Civil Liberties Union complained about the terms of the debate.

[...]

In the remaining areas of legal controversy, such as how the government wants to deal with encryption, the report offers no new insights. The Justice Department favors legislation that would make it easier for law enforcement agents to thwart computer encryption programs that they believe are being used to cover up crimes. But many industry executives and civil libertarians oppose such legislation.

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