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Article: Easing of Encryption Technology Curbs Backed; Panel Says Restrictions on Exports of Computer Programs Are Hurting American Citizens
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- May 31, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Proponents of freer export of computer technology that
safeguards data from eavesdropping got a boost yesterday from a
long-awaited study advocating that government immediately loosen its
restrictions.
Commissioned by Congress and prepared by a committee of the
National Research Council, the report said the government should
encourage, not hamper, the general use of "encryption" technology,
which uses advanced computer techniques to scramble information and
protect it from prying eyes.
"In this age of telecommunications and lightning-speed
advances in computing, keeping confidential information private gets
tougher all the time," said Kenneth Dam, chairman of the committee
and a ...