>From: Stephen D Crocker <crocker(_at_)tis(_dot_)com>
>Subject: Re: Old PEM vs. New PEM
>Date: Thu, 30 Jun 94 00:21:24 -0400
>I did not mean to suggest that Clipper is not official U.S. policy,
>but I still see no evidence that Clinton personally has gotten
>involved in this.
I wouldnt really expect a policy maker to involved in deciding or
making statements about some bit of technology which might implement
confidentiality policy requirements; thats what agency actions are for
(or open private actions if the solution is "better", in my own
opinion); Clipper has an expected technical life of 15 years; time in
which civilian society can learn to apply ciphers massively and safely,
with everyone adjusting to their power, and potential for abuse. We
ought to just get one with implementing the policy, using a variety of
technical solutions, and engage in the process which proves the case
one way or the other. In 10-15 years, well know much more, having done
it. 10-15 years is a valid long-range product and market planning
period.
...soap
I dont expect the vision or requirements of the standard OSI services
to be met before then, for example. Though, the rapidly-evolving
first-world-wide narrow-band ISDN reality is making me reconsider
substantially this estimate.)
...soap-off
Without any doubt, the policy and leadership is having the desired
impact upon the public debate - in that there are now several schemes
being proposed by non-governamental concerns for allowing
law-enforcement access. This fact was not even on the active research
agenda publicly a year ago.
Does this indicate a new requirement for "new-PEM?" in need of
technical standardization? Steve Walker of TIS has made public
statements of a TIS software solution to law-enforcement. Do you intend
to bring the proposal in TIS products for standardization, or,
endorsement by the IETF? Is the Internet community your
intended market? Could this be, "new-PEM's" niche?
Ill check up just what the personal involvement of Clinton in this
policy making is, as best as I can. The public line to date has
certainly been, "direct personal intervention in the whole debate, so
massive things happen in telecomms now." I'll try to determine the
personal presidential role in a "Presidential Decision Directive"!
Lets see who signed it, to start with. Thats always a good place to
start...