SEPTEMBER 24, 1997
LEADING US SCIENTIFIC, MATHEMATICS, AND ENGINEERING SOCIETIES PROTEST RESTRICTIONS ON CRYPTOGRAPHY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The leading U.S. scientific, mathematics, and engineering societies sent a united message to Congress today protesting proposed U.S. cryptography policies that would maintain export restrictions limiting the open exchange of scientific information and the progress of scientific research and development. In addition, these organizations warned that new requirements for domestic key recovery raise serious scientific and technical problems that undermine its viability as a policy alternative. In a letter to the House Commerce Committee, the societies indicated that the policies will "diminish the scientific reputation of the United States and weaken us economically."
This is the first time these highly influential societies have united to inform Congress how cryptography policies will effect the future of scientific research and development in the U. S. Until now, the debate has focused on commercial, civil liberties, and national security/ law enforcement interests.
The House Commerce Committee will vote today on proposed legislation removing restrictions on the export of encryption products. However, amendments to this language were passed by two House Committees restricting the domestic use of encryption. The letter urges the Committee to reject such proposals or " U.S. leadership in many areas of science and technology is likely to be jeopardized with no discernible benefits to our National Interests."
Export controls and domestic restrictions on cryptography development and use impact scientific freedoms in a number of ways. Cryptographers, a specialized subset of computer scientists, mathematicians, and engineers, are unable to communicateare unable to communicate with their colleagues overseas or to participate in international projects aimed at developing a secure GII. The full and open exchange of scientific information facilitated by these organizations has significantly increased the economic strength of the United States. However the proposed new laws would continue to force them to exclude members living outside the United States from this free exchange.
According to Dr. Barbara Simons, " The scientific and engineering societies today speak with one voice in urging Congress not to enact cryptography policies which will prohibit scientists from performing important research. If scientists cannot research and develop new cryptographic tools, the future of electronic commerce may be in jeopardy."
CONTACTS:
Dr. Barbara Simons
Chair
U.S. Public Policy Committee for the Association for Computing
phone: 408:256-3661
e-mail simons@VNET.IBM.COM
Dr. Peter Neumann
U.S. Public Policy Committee for the Association for Computing
email: neumann@csl.sri.com
Ed Lazowska
Chair, Computer Science
University of Washington
e-mail: lazowska@cs.washington.edu
phone: 206 543 4755
David L. Waltz
President,
American Association for Artificial Intelligence (AAAI)
e-mail: waltz@research.nj.nec.com
phone: 609-951-2700
fax: 609-951-2483
Irving Lerch
Co-Chair, Committee on Scientific Freedom and Responsibility
American Association for the Advancement of Science
phone: 301 209 3236
Mary Gray
Co-Chair, Scientific Freedom and Responsibility
American Association for the Advancement of Science
phone: 202 885 3171
Staff: Lauren Gelman 202/544-4859 gelman@acm.org
Alex Fowler 202/ 326-7016 afowler@aaas.org