GSM & A5

[Ian BROWN]

Replying to two posts from Owen Lewis:
>The handheld transmitter that can't be df'ed ain't been made.

Owen, I can't believe you really mean that line of argument: are you
trying to provoke argument, or just befuddle people?

It's trivially true in that the source of a given signal can usually be
located. But linking that to the owner of the transmitter is quite a
different matter.

and again:
>*Is* it govt pressure of is it market forces?

Compare the behaviour of ETSI and the IETF. 

ETSI security protocols have often been designed in secret with 
dubious input from goverment officials who are listed as from DTI or 
similar but then turn out to have connections with the Home Office and 
friends. Large telcos previously state-owned and still with some regulated 
monopoly are easy to pressure. The IETF, made up of engineers from literally 
thousands of companies in a far more competitive market, had the following to 
say after pressure from the FBI to add wiretap capability to their protocols:

"The IETF has decided not to consider requirements for wiretapping as
part of the process for creating and maintaining IETF standards." (RFC 2804)

and previously on crypto export controls:

"The IAB and IESG would like to encourage policies that allow ready
access to uniform strong cryptographic technology for all Internet users
in all countries." (RFC 1984) (IAB and IESG=oversight and steering groups)

Thank God the IETF has some backbone.