Re: SAFE Bill is a Good Thing--"Crypto For The Masses"

[Lucky Green <shamrock@netcom.com>]

On Thu, 1 May 1997, Alan Davidson wrote:

> Contrary to reports, the SAFE bill does not say: "Use a cipher, go to
> prison."  It does say: "Use cryptography TO COMMIT A CRIME, go to prison":
> 
>    2805. Unlawful use of encryption in furtherance of a criminal act
> 
>    	"Any person who willfully uses encryption in furtherance
> 	of the commission of a criminal offense for which the
> 	person may be prosecuted in a court of competent jurisdiction...
> 	[may be imprisoned or fined]"

What the bill punishes with five years in prison is the use of encryption
in FURTHERANCE of a crime.

I will demonstrate at the next SF Bay Area Cypherpunks meeting on Saturday
May 10, 1997 the use of encryption in furtherance of a crime using only
three mouse clicks and three keystrokes. No custom scripts, macros, etc.
involved. In fact, I will gladly perform the demonstration on a computer
provided by the audience.

That's right folks! Three mouse clicks and three keystrokes will buy you 
*five* years in the federal penitentiary should SAFE become law as 
currently written.

[Since this is a controlled demo, no actual crimes will be committed. Do 
not try this at home! You will be breaking the law.]
--Lucky