This is from a recent E-Commerce report in California. It highlights the 'Cat Being Out of the Bag' argument against crypto controls. The full report is available from: http://www.e-commerce.ca.gov/ <Begin Quoted material:> 6 The federal government should overhaul its current restrictions on the export of encryption technology, taking fully into account actual foreign availability of comparable technologies. For example, Netscapes Internet browser and e-mail application "Communicator" that incorporates 128-bit encryption technology may not be exported from the US to foreign consumers. Yet, using any of the popular Internet search engines, it takes only a few minutes to find foreign-based websites from which one can obtain free add-on software independently developed by foreign software developers that will augment Communicator so that it will have 128-bit encryption capabilities. This fact should justify eliminating the current ban on exporting the 128-bit version of Communicator, and a truly rigorous foreign availability review of encryption technology would support substantially broader deregulation. <End Quote> The report has a catchy title, too: "If I'm so empowered, why do I need you?" Defining Government's Role in Internet Electronic Commerce
