Re: Key Escrow Papers

[cme@acm.org]

>From: John Young <jya@pipeline.com>
>Date: Thu, 7 Sep 1995 20:55:49 -0400

>   Note 1: It was Michael Nelson of the White House who said
>   that the reason to maintain the 64-bit limit for export was
>   because the key escrow methodology had not yet been proven
>   reliable and that the security agencies insisted on the
>   relatively weak system in case key escrow failed.

Clint Brooks of NSA repeated this assertion, at least once.  He said it
during the August 17, 1995 meeting as well.

I find this interesting, not least as a violation of security.  This
amounts to an open declaration that NSA can break through 64-bit keys.

Could it be that NSA was miffed at being upstaged in the announcement of
breaking through a 40-bit key and wanted to up the ante? .... :-)

 - Carl

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