We don't want to move toward a nation in which any state crime becomes a federal felony merely because a computer, telephone, or other electronic device is involved. We object strenuously to the current trend toward federalizing crimes. This is offensive to our constitutional system of federalism. Considering the present status of judicial activism, Congress should be removing jurisdiction from the federal courts, not adding to their jurisdiction. We object to the implication that encryption is somehow suspect.
Strong encryption is one of the greatest achievements of the information age.
It means we will be able to talk on the telephone with assurance that no one is eavesdropping. It means we can exchange E-mail, make purchases, and invest our money in privacy, because snoops cannot decode data traffic even if they gain access to a network. It should be the policy of the United States to encourage wide dissemination of strong encryption technology. I thank the sponsors of H.R. 695 for recognizing the vital importance to individuals of unrestricted cryptography, and I hope the bill will be amended to remove criminal deterrents to using cryptography.