U.S. electronic data move challenged on privacy issue

Article Abstract:

On Thursday, Jun 27, 1991, the government announced its plans for a new standard for authenticating electronic data, to be introduced in the summer of 1991. RSA Data Security Inc (Redwood City, CA), which is the computer software industry's leading supplier of software that protects data, responded angrily to the government's announcement. According to RSA Data Security, the government has not addressed fears about special mechanisms called 'trapdoors' that allow law enforcement or intelligence operatives to look at private data. Earlier in 1991 an anti-terrorism bill was introduced into Congress that would have permitted representatives of Federal agencies to look at private data, but the idea was dropped when extensive opposition was encountered. Government officials now say that the government's proposed standard will be available for technical experts to examine so the experts can decide for themselves whether the standard is suitable. The Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility, however, expresses its 'legitimate concern about the role the N.S.A. (National Security Agency) might play in the development of such a standard.'

National security, Regulation misc. commercial sectors, Legislative bodies, Laws, regulations and rules, Telecommunications services industry, Telecommunications industry, Privacy, Investigations, Electronic mail systems, E-mail, Email, Telecommunications software, United States. Congress, Social conditions, United States. National Institute of Standards and Technology, United States. National Security Agency, Communications software, RSA Data Security Inc., Government Agency, Telecommunications, Data Communications Software, Data Security, Social Issue, Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility, United States. Congress. House. Subcommittee on Technology and Competitiveness

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Group to set rules for computer encoding

Article Abstract:

Novell Inc is leading a group of computer companies that plan to announce a set of standards for securing data stored in computers or sent over networks. The group is seen as posing an indirect challenge to the White House, which wants to mandate a national encoding standard, called Clipper, for telephone and computer communications. Because the Clinton administration can only influence encoding standards but regulating what hardware and software can be exported, it is likely to listen to the Novell proposal with an open mind. Novell will be joined by AT and T, Motorola, Hughes Aircraft, Computer Associates, about 10 computer-security firms and representatives from the British Ministry of Defense and the European Community standards-setting committee.

Computer industry, Clinton, Bill, Professional associations, Trade associations, Novell Inc., Trade and Professional Associations, Competition

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