These controls have merely prevented U.S. providers from participating in that global market. Customers throughout the world have the sophistication to understand the need for strong cryptographic products and they will continue to seek to buy them wherever they are sold. The result will be an increasing loss of jobs and revenues in an area where the U.S. once held the dominant position. It is conceivable that our own industry and civilian sector might eventually become dependent on foreign cryptography products should U.S. firms continue to be prohibited from open competition in this arena. Second, this bill threatens cherished civil freedoms.
Information technologies make data surveillance possible and increasingly affordable.
The best technical protections available to the individual depend upon cryptography. There is also an unfortunate history of a few law enforcement agents and government officials using their positions and access to violate the law and the rights of citizens. The wording in the proposed bill for organizations with Federal funding to rely on a mandated form of encryption will be burdensome and may lead to severe invasions of privacy. Otherwise, users would be able to substitute their own encryption instead of, or in addition to, the mandated form, thus rendering this bill meaningless but still costly to implement. Third, the criminal element will not be hindered by any legislation similar to the one proposed.