More encryption needed, not less, says US lawmaker

Udhay Shankar N udhay at pobox.com
Thu Sep 27 05:03:02 EDT 2001


Wow. Sensible words from a Congressman? Save this one.

Udhay

-- 
((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))
      God is silent. Now if we can only get Man to shut up.

--------------------------------------------------------------
This story was printed from ZDNN,
located at http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn.
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Lawmaker: More encryption needed
By Reuters
September 21, 2001 1:05 PM PT

URL: http://www.zdnet.com/filters/printerfriendly/0,6061,5097301-2,00.html

WASHINGTON--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, policy-makers have called for limits on popular 
encryption
software that allows users to scramble Internet communications for privacy.


The Central Intelligence Agency said earlier this year that encryption
software was in use by radical Islamic groups such as Osama bin Laden's al
Qaeda, believed to be behind the attacks last week.


But Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., said after a Capitol Hill panel on Internet
security that proposed remedies such as "trapdoors" 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 said. "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.


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 companies 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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