US Mass Market Crypto Exportable

[Owen Lewis]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: ukcrypto-admin@chiark.greenend.org.uk
> [mailto:ukcrypto-admin@chiark.greenend.org.uk]On Behalf Of Ian Brown
> Sent: 10 June 2002 22:18
> To: ukcrypto
> Subject: RE: US Mass Market Crypto Exportable
>
>
> Owen Lewis wrote:
> > Internet or not, you are quite right when you infer that to make a
> > regulation by no means ensures that all will comply with it. As a
> > matter of
> > everyday experience, we all know that it is not so. OTOH, whilst the
> > majority comply with regulations - and particularly where the
> penalty for
> > breach of them is condign - most regulations remain effective to some
> > greater or lesser extent.
>
> This is the crux of the matter. While restricting physical technology
> transfers usually has some effect proportional to the percentage of
> transfers you prevent, a piece of information only has to be exported once
> to have completely subverted the regulations for the exporter and her
> allies. Unfortunate, but the way information works.

This only seems so in connection with items given away freely (and hence
perhaps the relaxation it the regulations in respect of such items). Items
of value - particularly high value items - must be exported time and again,
occasioning a new offence on each occasion. However this does not invalidate
the central proposition which is that controls on the transfer of know-how
and other intangible items of trade can never be made completely effective.
However, here we have a core reason why C&E are so grateful for their powers
under RIPA and the proposed forced retention of all comms data. Its about
the only straw they can clutch to. Watch out. They will make maximum use of
it.

Owen