No major surprises here, but it's another chalked-in hash mark for the 'good guys' side. >Dear recipient, > >The Ministry of Transport and Communications of Finland gave today an >international press release which may be of interest to you. It outlines >the national cryptography policy in Finland. As you have an extensive >mailing list of experts in this field, you might want to consider to share >this information with them. I would be grateful if you did. For further >information, please do not hesitate to contact me. > >Sincerely, > >Joel Jaakkola >legal adviser >Ministry of Transport and Communications, Finland >t. +358 9 1609151 >f. +358 9 1602588 >e. [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >**** > > > 9.11.1998 > > >Finland Announces a National Cryptography Policy > >The Ministry of Transport and Communications of Finland published the >national cryptography policy in English on the Internet. The policy was >agreed by the Finnish Government on October 7th, 1998. > >The Government was unanimous that nationally there should be no >restrictions on the use of strong encryption for confidentiality purposes. >There should be no mandatory key recovery systems either, at least not >provided for by law. Businesses and private persons should be encouraged >to use voluntary key management systems. However, they are not obliged to >do so by law and there will be no special privileges or rights offered by >public authorities for that purpose. > >With regard to exports and export restrictions, Finland observes those >arrangements to which it is internationally committed. However, with >regard to reform of control lists and procedures Finland's aims are to >examine the restrictions on cryptographic products so that control lists >correspond to technical development, and to ensure that the necessary >restrictions will not unreasonably impede normal foreign trade of industry >and businesses. > >The complete policy can be found on the website >http://www.vn.fi/lm/telecom.htm. The policy guidelines and the >accompanying memorandum were prepared by the Ministry of Transport and >Communications in close consultation with other ministries and law >enforcement authorities. The ministry has also noted the remarks made by >the industry. > >Furthermore, a proposal for a new law on privacy in the telecommunications >sector is being studied by the Finnish Parliament. The law, which is to >enter into force in the coming months, would provide everyone for the >right to use any technical means available to ensure the confidentiality >of his or her telecommunications messages. > > >**** >
