SSSCA = Digital Rectal Thermometer Security Act ?

[Nexus]

Ron Rivest has some interesting comments on this :

----- Original Message -----
From: "InfoSec News" <isn@c4i.org>
To: <isn@attrition.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2001 7:08 AM
Subject: [ISN] SSSCA = Digital Rectal Thermometer Security Act ?


> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 00:55:51 -0400
> From: Ronald L. Rivest <rivest@mit.edu>
> To: cryptography@wasabisystems.com, farber@cis.upenn.edu
> Subject: SSSCA = Digital Rectal Thermometer Security Act ?
>
> Hi all --
>
> I just sat down and read the proposed text of the Holling's SSSCA bill.
>          http://cryptome.org/sssca.htm
> Boy is this bill breathtaking in its breadth! I have tried to understand
> its language.  It says in Section 101:
>
>      "It is unlawful to manufacture, import, offer to the public, provide
> or otherwise traffic in any interactive digital device that does not
> include and utilize certified security technologies that adhere to
> the security systems standards adopted under section 104."
>
> and says in Section 109:
>
>          "The term "interactive digital device" means any machine, device,
> product, software, or technology, whether or not included with or as
> part of some other machine, device, product, software, or technology,
> that is designed, marketed or used for the primary purpose of, and
> that is capable of, storing, retrieving, processing, performing,
> transmitting, receiving, or copying information in digital form."
>
> Putting 2+2 together, we see that essentially all digital devices and
> software will have to have "certified security technologies" in them.
> Anything that works primarily with digital data is covered.
>
> My feeble brain came up with the following list of things that would
> have to be secured.  I'm sure you can think of lots more.
>          -- All bar-code scanners
>          -- All computer-controlled ignition systems
>          -- All metro ticket readers
>          -- All digital watches and calculators
>          -- All ATM machines
>          -- All digital cellular phones
>          -- All digital answering machines
>          -- All GPS receivers
>          -- All sports scoreboards and the marquee signs in Times Square
>          -- All electronic parking meters
>          -- Almost all lab equipment (everything is digital these days)
>          -- All software, for sure
>          -- All digital cameras and digital movie cameras
>          -- All PC's and game consoles
>          -- All remote key-entry systems and most home security systems
>          -- All stop-light controllers
> Well, I should leave some of the fun to you. But of course
> my favorite should be listed:
>          -- All digital rectal thermometers
>
> Presumably some staffers will try to rescue this
> laughable (albeit a bit scary) lobbyist-written proposal.
> Of course, just letting the bill die is probably best.  But if
> they want to fix things, they should consider adding language
> that makes it ILLEGAL to sell copy-protection technology
> that doesn't permit at least
>
>          -- fair use, including time-shifting and making a reasonable
>            number of copies for personal or educational use, or
>            for backups,
>
>          -- free use of a copyrighted item once the copyright has
>            expired
>
> (This list should be expanded.)
>
> But in any case, making any security technology *mandatory* on all
> digital devices and computers is clearly a non-starter.  Why, we'd
probably
> have to close down all the country's computer science departments
> (can't have these kids making unsecured devices, you know, even if
> it is their homework assignment to build a computer...)
>
>          Cheers,
>          Ron Rivest
>
>
>
> Ronald L. Rivest
> Room 324, 200 Technology Square, Cambridge MA 02139
> Tel 617-253-5880, Fax 617-258-9738, Email <rivest@mit.edu>
>
>
>
>
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