[IWAR] CRYPTO Germany Endorses Strong Crypto (fwd)

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Date: Thu, 3 Jun 1999 21:29:52 -0700 (PDT)
From: 7Pillars Partners <partners@sirius.infonex.com>
Reply-To: iwar@sirius.infonex.com
To: g2i list <g2i@xmission.com>, IWAR list <iwar@sirius.infonex.com>
Subject: [IWAR] CRYPTO Germany Endorses Strong Crypto

   Germany Endorses Strong Crypto
   Wired News Report 
   5:20 p.m.  3.Jun.99.PDT
   In an apparent response to corporate spying allegedly conducted in
   Europe by the United States, Germany is encouraging citizens and
   businesses to use strong cryptography.
   
   "[Germany] considers the application of secure encryption to be a
   crucial requirement for citizens' privacy, for the development of
   electronic commerce, and for the protection of business secrets," reads
   a translated version of a policy framework document released Wednesday
   by Germany's Federal Department of Business and Technology (BMWI).
   
   "The federal government will therefore actively support the distribution
   of secure encryption. This includes in particular increasing the
   security consciousness of citizens, business, and administration."
   
   Australia recently became the first nation to admit it participates in
   Echelon, a previously secret global surveillance network capable of
   intercepting electronic communications anywhere in the world.

   Echelon is said to be principally operated by the United States'
   National Security Agency and its UK equivalent, the Government
   Communications Headquarters. In addition to Australia, the system relies
   on cooperation with other signals-intelligence agencies in Canada and
   New Zealand.
   
   Earlier this month, UK investigative journalist Duncan Campbell
   submitted Interception Capabilities 2000, his report on Echelon, to the
   European Parliament's Science and Technology Options Assessment Panel.
   
   Campbell had been asked to investigate the system in the wake of charges
   made last year in the European Parliament that Echelon was being used to
   funnel European government and industry secrets into US hands. In the
   wake of the report, the Australian government confirmed the Echelon
   alliance to media in follow-up interviews.
   
   Though Wednesday's German government statement does not mention Echelon,
   the document alludes to the specter of industrial espionage.
   
   "For reasons of national security, and the security of business and
   society, the federal government considers the ability of German
   manufacturers to develop and manufacture secure and efficient encryption
   products indispensable," the statement said.
   
   The government added that it would take additional measures to
   strengthen its domestic crypto software industry.
   
   The policy also cautioned that while encryption may be used to criminal
   ends, the need to protect electronic commerce overrides any such
   concerns. The department said it would prepare and release a report on
   the criminal uses of cryptography within two years.
   
   The US government restricts the export of strong crypto on the grounds
   that it might be used by terrorists and hostile nations to conceal
   communications.