Re: 090498_crypto

[Declan McCullagh <declan@pathfinder.com>]

Crypto came up a couple times during Q&A as well. 

-Declan


On Sun, 6 Sep 1998, Information Security wrote:

> Ying:
> 
>    >   From: Jim Choate <ravage@EINSTEIN.ssz.com>
>    >
>    >      Tauzin: FBI won't get crypto key and more on high-tech and Capitol Hill 
>    >      September 3, 1998 5:55 PM PT
>    >      Updated at 6:58 PM PT
>    >      
>    >      SAN FRANCISCO -- An influential Congressman says Congress is close to
>    >      resolving the bitter dispute over encryption software, and it looks as
>    >      though it will be decided in favor of the high-tech industry.
>    >      
>    >      U.S. Rep. Bill Tauzin, R-La., said flatly that "we're not going to
>    >      give the FBI the keys to the encryption system." The remark came as
>    >      part of a wide-ranging interview with ZDNN.
> 
> Yang:
> 
> Subject: Terrorist FBI, on Terrorism
> Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1998 09:58:23 EDT
> 
> Statement for the Record
> FBI Director Louis J. Freeh before the Senate Judiciary Committee,
> September 3, 1998
> 
> Good morning Chairman Hatch and members of the judiciary committee. I
> am pleased to be with you this morning as you explore the U.S.
> Government's response to international terrorism.
> 
> [snip]
> 
> THE FUTURE
> 
> Would like to close by talking briefly about steps we can take to
> further strengthen our abilities to prevent and investigate terrorist
> activity.
> 
> ENCRYPTION
> 
> One of the most important of these steps involves the FBI's encryption
> initiative. Communication is central to any collaborative effort --
> including criminal conspiracies. Like most criminals, terrorists are
> naturally reluctant to put the details of their plots down on paper.
> Thus, they generally depend on oral or electronic communication to
> formulate the details of their terrorist activities.
> 
> For this reason, the law enforcement community is very concerned about
> the serious threat posed by the proliferation of encryption
> technology. Current standards do not allow for law enforcement access
> or the timely decryption of critical evidence obtained through lawful
> electronic surveillance or search and seizures.
> 
> The FBI supports a balanced encryption policy that satisfies fourth
> amendment concerns for privacy, the commercial needs of industry for
> robust encryption, and the government's public safety and national
> security needs.
> 
> The encryption capabilities available to criminals and terrorists
> today effectively thwart the ability of law enforcement agencies to
> implement the court-ordered surveillance techniques that have helped
> put some of the nation's most dangerous offenders behind bars. Whether
> a state police department is racing the clock to find a kidnapped
> child or the FBI is attempting to track and prevent the destructive
> ambitions of an international terrorist group, the need for timely
> access to legally obtained electronic surveillance cannot be
> overstated.
> 
> [snip]
> 
> EXPANSION OF FBI LEGATS
> 
> Likewise, the expansion of the number of FBI LEGATS around the world
> has enhanced the ability of the FBI to prevent, respond to, and
> investigate terrorist acts committed by international terrorists
> against U.S. Interests worldwide. As evidenced by developments in the
> embassy bombing cases in East Africa, the ability to bring
> investigative resources to bear quickly in the aftermath of a
> terrorist act can have significant impact on our ability to identify
> those responsible. I encourage Congress to support our efforts to
> counter the international terrorist threat by continuing to support
> expansion of our LEGAT program.
> 
> [snip]
> 
>