NSA is chiefly concerned with exports. Last summer, the Vice .President agreed to explore public acceptance of a key escrow policy but did not rule out other approaches, although none seem viable at this point. Before leaving for GSA, former Commerce Deputy Secretary Barram served as the chief Administration liaison with industry for encryption policy. Deutch has worked closely with his UK counterpart to develop a common approach to encryption policy for both exports and for electronic commerce. Economic agencies firmly believe it would be a mistake to present industry with the key escrow proposal without addressing liberalization of export controls.
Industry argues for decontrol of encryption, for moving it from.
The private sector has begun pursuing a legislative strategy. The bills are unlikely to move, but their presence, along with increasing industry public comments about it's unhappiness with the Administration's policy and the importance of this issue in California, is designed to pressure the administration into modifying its policy.