With the end of the Cold War and the growth of widely available computer network services, the outdated view of cryptography reflected in the Reagan order must change, according to the statement. CPSR's call for revision of the classification system is based upon the organization's experience in attempting to obtain government information relating to cryptography and computer security issues. NSA has relied on the Reagan Executive Order as authority for withholding the information from the public. The task force is scheduled to submit a draft revision of the Executive Order to President Clinton on November 30. CPSR is a national organization of professionals in the computing field.
Membership is open to the public.
For more information on CPSR, contact . Based on our experience conducting litigation under the Freedom of Information Act and our efforts to assess certain government policies concerning cryptography and computer security, we have the following recommendations regarding changes to the security classification system. General Recommendations CPSR believes that the current Executive Order 12356 is far too broad in its definition of classifiable information and that post Cold War realities require the substantial revision of this outdated directive. We share the views of many public interest, journalistic, academic, historical, and scientific organizations that have recommended a complete revision of the classification scheme. We believe such a revision is both necessary and appropriate.