FITUG e.V. Förderverein Informationstechnik und Gesellschaft

Lawmaker Wants More Internet Encryption, Not Less (fwd)

------- Forwarded message follows ------- Date sent: Sat, 22 Sep 2001 21:24:36 -0700 (PDT) From: "Jay D. Dyson" <jdyson@treachery.net> To: Cryptography List <cryptography@wasabisystems.com> Subject: Lawmaker Wants More Internet Encryption, Not Less (fwd) Organization: Treachery Unlimited - http://www.treachery.net/

Courtesy of Defcon Stuff @treachery.net

---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sat, 22 Sep 2001 01:51:12 -0700 From: Gurney Halleck <gurneyh@ix.netcom.com> Reply-To: Defcon Stuff <dc-stuff@treachery.net> To: Defcon Stuff <dc-stuff@treachery.net> Subject: Lawmaker Wants More Internet Encryption, Not Less

One voice of reason...

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010921/tc/tech_encryption_dc_1.html

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. lawmaker well-versed in technology issues said Friday that government bodies and citizens should use more encryption, not less, to increase security on the Internet.

In the wake of last Tuesday's hijackings that left more than 6,500 Americans dead or missing, policymakers have called for limits on popular encryption software that allows users to scramble Internet communications for privacy.

The Central Intelligence Agency (news - web sites) said earlier this year that encryption software was in use by radical Islamic groups like Osama bin Laden (news - web sites)'s al Qaeda, believed to be behind the attacks last week.

Rep. Bob Goodlatte, a Virginia Republican, said after a Capitol Hill panel on Internet security that proposed remedies such as ``trap doors'' to allow government surveillance would effectively make Internet communications less secure.

``That's like telling people to take their house key down to the police station,'' Goodlatte told Reuters. ``People are not going to have greater confidence in their security by doing that.''

Goodlatte led congressional efforts several years ago to loosen export controls on encryption technology, ultimately prevailing over opposition from the National Security Agency and the FBI (news - web sites).

Reimposing export limits would not limit the availability of encryption software, as it is widely available overseas, he said. Instead, it would place U.S. software firms at a competitive disadvantage.

Goodlatte said more U.S. businesses and government agencies should use encryption to guard against future computer-based attacks that could disable power plants, banking systems, and other critical infrastructures.

Goodlatte said he would bring his concerns to Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, who was appointed yesterday to head U.S. efforts to defend against terrorism.

( ( _______ )) )) .-"There's always time for a good cup of coffee."-. >====<--. C|~~|C|~~| (>------ Jay D. Dyson - jdyson@treachery.net ------<) | = |-' `--' `--' `--------------- rm -rf /bin/laden ---------------' `------'

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