Encryption is a subject of vital importance to our industry. I am the General Manger of the Network Security and Electronic Commerce Group of Sun Microsystems. I am here today representing the Computer and Communications Industry Association. CCIA is an association of computer and communications industry firms whose members employ over half a million workers and generate annual revenues of nearly 200 billion dollars.
Encryption is important to our member companies for several different reasons.
First, some of our members develop and market encryption products and current law their significantly affects their ability to sell both in the United States and to foreign markets. Second, our members rely heavily on encryption in protecting their systems from hackers and other intruders, and current law threatens their ability to protect those systems and the vital information they contain. Third, our members strongly support the widest use of information and communications technology to enhance global commerce, and without strong encryption the potential of the Internet cannot be fulfilled. Under the existing policy of restricting U.S. exports, American companies are losing sales and jobs to their foreign competition while criminals and terrorists desiring strong encryption can obtain it nonetheless. Second, the U.S. Government should not dictate which encryption technology must be used.