Secure e-mail is yours for a price
rganizations and individuals sending sensitive information over networks want to use strong encryption to protect their data from prying eyes. Government policy-makers fear that unbreakable codes will keep national security watchdogs and law enforcement agencies from obtaining information needed to stop criminals and terrorists and want law enforcers to be able to crack encoded traffic through a back door, with court permission. Users of encryption object. Until this dispute is resolved, overseas sales of products with strong encryption are being restricted.
In July, 13 major technology companies interested in exporting more hardware and software proposed to the Commerce Department an alternative to the back-door plan. The new plan, labeled a "private doorbell" approach, calls for network operators to use filters at the server to cull from the network traffic any files or messages subject to court order. This would keep government agents from having to crack open encrypted network traffic. Initial White House reaction was that the proposal merited consideration; there was no official response before press time.
Meanwhile, Commerce recently relaxed restrictions on sales of encrypted data products to financial institutions in 45 nations. The move is an effort to encourage use of electronic commerce while keeping strong encryption out of the hands of criminals and terrorists.
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