Fearing that last week's terrorist attacks have created a backlash against secure communications, computer security experts are warning that any effort to mandate government access to encrypted information will seriously weaken crypto systems that protect critical business data and the national infrastructure.. . .
Fearing that last week's terrorist attacks have created a backlash against secure communications, computer security experts are warning that any effort to mandate government access to encrypted information will seriously weaken crypto systems that protect critical business data and the national infrastructure.

A recent public opinion poll surveying reactions to the terrorist attacks reported that 72 percent of respondents believed that reducing encryption to aid the CIA or FBI would be "somewhat" or "very" helpful in preventing similar incidents. The study, conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates, found that 54 percent of those surveyed felt encryption laws should be reduced to assist investigators.

During a speech on the Senate floor last week, Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) called for a global ban on encryption products that do not allow access for decryption by government agents.

In response, many analysts are pointing to a 1998 report entitled "The Risks of Key Recovery, Key Escrow, & Trusted Third Party Encryption," compiled by a group of respected cryptographers and computer scientists. The study details technical risks and costs in deploying systems that provide government access to encryption keys.

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