Lawmaker Wants More Internet Encryption, Not Less (fwd)

[Jay D. Dyson]

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Courtesy of Defcon Stuff @treachery.net

- ---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 22 Sep 2001 01:51:12 -0700
From: Gurney Halleck <gurneyh at ix.netcom.com>
Reply-To: Defcon Stuff <dc-stuff at treachery.net>
To: Defcon Stuff <dc-stuff at 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. 

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C|~~|C|~~| (>------ Jay D. Dyson - jdyson at treachery.net ------<) |    = |-'
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