Clinton Administration Continues to Push For Flawed Crypto Export Policy

The Clinton Administration has continued to push its latest key escrow cryptography export proposal, despite a chorus of disapproval from civil liberties advocates and the computer and communications industry. At a public meeting at the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) on December 5, 1995, Administration officials presented a revised version of their proposed Key Escrow Export Criteria (initially proposed in September 1995). The proposal keeps in place the current export ban on strong cryptography, and allows for the export of moderately stronger (64-bit key length) systems meeting strict key escrow criteria.

The proposal was roundly criticized by civil liberties organization, companies, and individuals at the December 5, 1995 meeting on the grounds that it would create a barrier to security and privacy on the Net. It is expected that the Administration will soon move forward to formally adopt the proposal as part of its current export criteria for cryptography.

CDT's Testimony at the December 5, 1995 NIST Crypto Meeting

Text of Revised Criteria [Downloads file from Computer Security Resource Clearinghouse]

Other NIST documents relating to the revised policy [Links to CSRC]

CDT-led Public Interest/Industry Coalition Says Administration Crypto Policy Flawed

CDT's Policy Post Announcing the Letter

Text of CDT-led Coalition Letter

Taxpayer Coalition for Computer Privacy Letter to House Speaker Newt Gingrich opposing the Administration's policy.

Clipper II: Clinton Administration Crypto Policy (announced in September 1995)

At a conference held at the National Institute of Standards and Technology on September 6-7, 1995, the Clinton Administration announced its revised cryptography policy. Click here to read CDT's statement on the new policy.

Relevant Documents from the NIST Conference

CDT Testimony before NIST conference on new crypto policy

NIST Discussion Paper No. 3 -- The Proposed Crypto Policy

NIST Discussion Paper No. 2 -- Desirable Characteristics for Escrow Agents

NIST Discussion Paper No. 1 -- General Issues

Press Clips

New York Times Reporter Peter Lewis on the NIST conference

Vice President Gore's July 1994 letter to former Rep. Maria Cantwell pledging to re-examine US cryptography policy.

The EFF Clipper Archive. Contains NSA documents, testimony by Jerry Berman (now CDT Executive Director), and other relevant materials relating to the failed Clipper Chip Government Key Escrow proposal. (Most of CDT's staff was working at EFF at the time of the Clipper Chip proposal.)