Re: [LITTLE BIT OFFTOPIC] Re: crypto
Alan Olsen (alano@adams.pcx.ncd.com)
Mon, 7 Dec 1998 13:37:46 -0800
On Dec 7, 2:33pm, Mikulas Patocka wrote:
> Subject: [LITTLE BIT OFFTOPIC] Re: crypto
> > > I think it would be nice if the various free-software organizations
> > > teamed up with some big corporations to buy a ship with a powerful
> > > radio transmitter (maybe also a satellite uplink) on which to
> > > develop crypto in international waters for distribution everywhere.
> >
> > I assume you mean xmit from the US, if so, that would be illegal.
>
> I think better idea how to go around u.s. laws is to specify something
> like Genral Encryption Interface. If you include encryption engine in
> linux, u.s. gov. doesn't you allow to export it. But if you include only
> calls to encryption engine and user has to download engine from some place
> in his country, it should be legal. Does anything like this already exist?
Actually hooks to crypto routines are viewed as crypto routines for purposes of
export by the US Government. There have already been cases where open source
developers have been asked by agents of the various US TLAs to remove such
hooks. (The Apache development team comes immediatly to mind.)
Currently the only solutions are either to get the laws changed or breaking the
law and hope they don't try to make an example of you. (Odds of the first one
are slight as the US Government no longer represents ideals like "freedom",
"justice", or "rationality".)
--
Alan Olsen
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