EFFector1.07 EFFector Online|EFFector Online|EFFector Online|EFFector Online EFFector Online|EFFector Online|EFFector Online|EFFector Online Volume 1 Issue:1.07 Friday June 7, 1991 SENATE ANTI-ENCRYPTION BILL WITHDRAWN WILL BE REPLACED BY A NEW OMNIBUS CRIME BILL -- S.1241 SENSE OF CONGRESS LANGUAGE RESTRICTING ENCRYPTION REMOVED When Senate Bill 266 was proposed, some of its provisions would haverestricted the rights of individuals to secure online communicationsthrough the use of encryption programs. The specific language was: "It is the sense of Congress that providers of electronic communications services and manufacturers of electronic communications service equipment shall ensure that communications systems permit the government to obtain the plain text contents of voice, data, and other communications when appropriately authorized by law." Let stand, this language would have a chilling effect on encryption.It would inevitably compromise individual privacy in telecommunications.The Electronic Frontier Foundation and several other groups determinedto oppose this provision. In the last issue of EFFector Online, we reported we would registerour opposition to this clause. In this case, Senator Patrick Leahy (D.Vermont), who chairs the sub-committee on Technology and the Law --asub-set of the Senate Judiciary Committee-- was the key to this issue. This week the EFF met with Leahy's staff to present our reasons forthe removal of the language dealing with encryption. Today, we wereinformed that the encryption clause has been eliminated from the newcrime bill which replaced the bill originally known as S.266. Inaddition, Leahy's sub-committee on Technology and the Law has undertakento study the issues of encryption and telecommunications technology. To continue this dialogue, Computer Professionals for SocialResponsibility, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and RSA will beholding an invitational workshop on privacy and encryption in Washingtonlater this month. Following the workshop, a press conference will beheld to announce a set of policy recommendations on cryptography. The conference will take place on Monday at 2:00 at the NationalPress Club (14th & Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.). All interested partiesare invited to attend. -==--==--==-<>-==--==--==- Please direct all mail regarding EFFector Online to: editors@eff.org{richsun2:gt3086b:11}
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