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Article: U.S. encryption policy harms businesses and the Internet.
- Article from:
- Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
- Article date:
- March 1, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Despite recent events highlighting the futility of its policy, the White House insists on regulating encryption technology. This policy is ineffective, harms U.S. encryption makers, and damages the economy.
As they debate encryption reform, legislators should consider a better, proven approach. The ideal policy would eliminate encryption controls and embrace the free market.
Encryption programs scramble information into unreadable text, ensuring the privacy of electronic data and communications. But while business transactions can be encrypted, so can communications between criminals. Consequently, law enforcers fear that encryption will empower a new ...