But the U.S. government, particularly the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is concerned that loose export rules could put encryption technology in the wrong hands, making it tougher to chase terrorists, drug smugglers and other criminals. Although the battle has been percolating for the past few years, with several pieces of legislation introduced in Congress, the tech industry hasn't had much success. Now, a coalition of 90 companies called Americans for Computer Privacy thinks its best chances rest in making encryption a consumer issue. The spot begins with the couple sitting in the living room, as he works on the computer and she reads the newspaper. That makes it safe to do our bills on here.
Encryption locks our private information.
The actors aren't the original Harry and Louise, nor do they refer to each other by those names, but the parallels are unmistakable. The ads were produced by Goddard-Claussen, a Malibu, Calif., firm that created the original health care spots in 1993. We want to make sure policymakers and consumers understand the importance of encryption and how it matters to them in their everyday lives. ACP hopes the ads will spur Congress to pass legislation that would loosen the export restriction. In the Senate, the legislation has yet to be heard by key committees.