HOUSE

SAFE (HR 850)


SUMMARY: The Security and Freedom through Encryption Act (SAFE) was introduced by Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) on February 25th, 1999. Like H.R. 695 in the 105th Congress, H.R. 850 creates a pro-privacy approach to encryption by easing outdated export controls and prohibiting mandatory key escrow.

• Major provisions of SAFE bill
• Text of HR 850 and amendments
• CDT's analysis of HR 850
• Highlights from the debate on SAFE

PROTECT (S. 798)

SUMMARY: The "Promote Reliable Online Transactions to Encourage Commerce and Trade (PROTECT) Act of 1999" was introduced on April 14, 1999 by Senator McCain (R-AZ), Senator Burns (R-MT), Senator Wyden (D-OR), Senator Leahy (D-VT), Senator Abraham (R-MI) and Senator Kerry (D-MA). PROTECT allows immediate export of 64-bit encryption products, directs NIST to complete Advanced and allows export of AES products by 2002, and allows immediate export of "generally available" products over 64-bits.

• Major Provisions of PROTECT
• Text of Original Bill
• CDT Analysis
• Highlights from the debate

E-RIGHTS Act (S. 854)


SUMMARY: The "Electronic Rights for the 21st Century Act" (E-RIGHTS) was introduced by Senator Leahy (D-VT) on April 21, 1999. E-RIGHTS focuses on issues of governmental access, establishing or tightening privacy protections for many types of records. It covers, among a wide range of issues, wireless phone location information, satellite TV home viewing, book purchases, domain name registration information, records stored on networks, and decryption assistance.

• Major provisions of E-RIGHTS bill
• Text of S. 854
• CDT's analysis of S. 854
• Highlights