- dan
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Americans for Computer Privacy
> [SMTP:webmaster@computerprivacy.org]
> Sent: Thursday, March 19, 1998 3:24 PM
> To: webmaster@computerprivacy.org
> Subject: NEWS: Senate privacy hearing online; listen and watch it
> online!
>
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> ______________________________________________________________________
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> ___ ____ ____ |
> / _ \ / ___| _ \ | Member
> Update
> | |_| | | | |_) | AMERICANS FOR COMPUTER PRIVACY | March 19,
> 1998
> | _ | |___| __/ | subscription
> info
> |_| |_|\____|_| http://www.computerprivacy.org | below
> ______________________________________________________________________
> ______
> Please forward where appropriate this message with this banner in
> tact
> Please do not forward after April 7, 1998
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>
> LEADING CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARS WARN CONGRESS
> OF THREATS TO BASIC RIGHTS POSED BY KEY ESCROW PLAN
>
> "Suppose that government ordered that a duplicate of every set of
> house keys be kept with an insurance agent, in order to
> facilitate
> ready later access by law enforcement officials. Such methods,
> much
> like the conduct of general searches, would seriously compromise
> the
> individual privacy and security we all enjoy."
>
> -Stanford Law Professor and Legal Counsel to Americans for
> Computer Privacy, Kathleen Sullivan, on the threat to
> privacy
> posed by government "key escrow" plan (March 17, 1998).
> http://www.computeprivacy.org/archive/03171998-1/
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> _______
> TABLE OF CONTENTS
> Senate hearing on privacy now available online
> News from Americans for Computer Privacy
> How can I make a difference?
> About Americans for Computer Privacy
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> _______
> SENATE HEARING ON PRIVACY NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
>
> On March 17, 1998 the Senate Judiciary Committee on the Constitution,
> Federalism and Property Rights, chaired by Senator John Ashcroft
> (R-MO), held a hearing to look at Constitutional interests in
> protecting privacy, as well as the Constitutional problems raised by
> government restrictions on encryption.
>
> The hearing focused on the government's desire for access to computer
> codes used to protect e-mail and other electronic communication, and
> its effort to impose limits on the power of computer software used to
> protect data transmissions.
>
> The hearing was cybercast live over the Internet. If you missed it,
> you can still listen to the transcript, read the written testimony of
> the speakers, and watch the videotape through the Internet. Simply go
> to the hearing archive at
> http://www.computeprivacy.org/archive/03171998-1/
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> _______
> NEWS FROM AMERICANS FOR COMPUTER PRIVACY
>
> LEADING CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARS WARN CONGRESS
> OF THREATS TO BASIC RIGHTS POSED BY KEY ESCROW PLAN
>
> Washington, DC -- (March 17) Speaking on behalf of Americans for
> Computer Privacy (ACP) today before the Senate Subcommittee on the
> Constitution, Federalism and Property Rights, Stanford Law Professor
> Kathleen Sullivan and University of Chicago Law Professor Richard
> Epstein cautioned lawmakers about the threat to our Constitutional
> rights posed by the encryption key recovery system proposed by the
> FBI. That plan would provide government approved third parties with
> the keys to locked computer files and communications, enabling them to
> unlock confidential files without the owners knowledge.
>
> "The entire system of pre-established key recovery reads like an
> indirect evasion of the individual safeguards normally afforded under
> the Fourth Amendment", stated Professor Richard Epstein. "The system
> introduces a massive system of potential surveillance. It cuts out
> the
> notice and knock provisions that must be satisfied before a warrant
> could be executed. It vests vast powers in third-party agents who
> have
> neither the incentive nor knowledge to contest any government
> intrusion. It presupposes uniform good faith by public officials and
> overlooks the major costs of even a tiny number of official misdeeds
> or
> mistakes. The proposed mandatory access system should be condemned
> therefore as an unreasonable search and seizure."
>
> Noting that mandatory key escrow is in considerable tension with our
> First Amendment as well, Professor Kathleen Sullivan stated that
> "requiring escrowed key encryptionlike requiring that letters be
> mailed
> in glassine envelopes would surely discourage speech as effectively as
> a
> tax or regulation on the underlying speech itself, and thus call for
> scrutiny under the First Amendment." As for the Fourth Amendment, she
> asked lawmakers to consider the following example. "Suppose that
> government ordered that a duplicate of every set of house keys be kept
> with an insurance agent, in order to facilitate ready later access by
> law enforcement officials. Such methods, much like the conduct of
> general searches, would seriously compromise the individual privacy
> and
> security we all enjoy."
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> _______
> HOW CAN I MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
>
> When you join Americans for Computer Privacy (it's free), you are sent
> the latest updates in the fight in Congress about this crucial issue.
> As legislation moves through Congress that you could have an impact
> on,
> we'll notify you so you can make your voice heard with the greatest
> effect.
>
> Best of all it's free. Join us at
> http://www.computerprivacy.org/join/
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> _______
> ABOUT AMERICANS FOR COMPUTER PRIVACY
>
> Americans for Computer Privacy (ACP) is a broad-based coalition
> working
> to ensure that the privacy of all Americans' confidential files and
> communications is preserved and protected in the information age.
>
> For more information on Americans for Computer Privacy, visit our web
> site at http://www.computerprivacy.org/ To receive ACP Member
> Updates,
> simply join ACP (its free!) at http://www.computerprivacy.org/join/
>
> To stop receiving these updates, send a note to
> webmaster@computerprivacy.org
> with a copy of this message in it and your request to unsubscribe.
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> _______
> posted 3.19.98
> ______________________________________________________________________
> _______
>
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