Joe writes: > It's based on the concept that only Americans can write software: it's > not a problem for the rest of the world to know how strong encryption > works, because only Americans are able to write software to do it, and > they're not allowed to export it.
It's based on the concept that encryption is militarily useful and therefor is a munition under the definition of munition in the export control law and therefor should not be exported without a license (which is not the same as "they're not allowed to export it"). Exporting firearms also requires a license. That does not mean that they think that no one else can make guns nor does it mean that export of firearms is never allowed. The laws were written to control (not forbid) the export of actual weapons and then stretched to cover "dual use technology" and information as to how to make things as well as the things themselves. It works as poorly in the latter case as you would expect, of course. > ...American encryption software writers can be leaned on by the US > government... No they can't. > I do recall a time when even [encryption] source code could only be > exported in physically printed form, not in electronic form, and PGP > was distributed abroad as a book. It was also printed on T-shirts which people wore while leaving the country. The government knew very well that the Federal courts would not allow them to seize books and printed material. It soon became clear to them that the courts would agree that the same material in digital form would get the same protection. The export control laws are not an Official Secrets Act, though the export control bureaucracy would have you believe it is. -- John Hasler jhas...@newsguy.com Elmwood, WI USA
