Information technology is transforming society, creating new businesses, new jobs and new careers. The technology also creates new opportunities for crime, and new problems in investigating and prosecuting crime. As a result, electronic information, be it corporate trade secrets, pre-release government crop statistics, or a patient's medical records, must have strong protection from uninvited modifications or disclosure.
Cryptography enables that protection.
The United States is the world leader in information technology. US firms continue to dominate the US and global information systems market. Retaining this leadership is important to our economic security. The Clinton Administration, through its National Information Infrastructure initiative, has long recognized that government has an important role as a facilitator and catalyst for the industry-led transformation of the way we use computer and communications technology to work and live. In particular, government has a strong interest in promoting the legitimate use of robust encryption to support US international competitiveness, foster global electronic commerce, prevent computer crime, and ensure that the information superhighway is a safe place to conduct one's business.