Slashdot Mirror
Germany Frees Crypto
marlon shakespeare writes "The German cabinet today released a policy statement on the unrestricted use of encryption. Unfortunately the article's in German but the rought gist of it is available in English. " Hopefully some certain other countries will follow the German lead on this one.
I think it's rather funny that the statement harps very much on the economic need for strong crypto. It sounds like some people read the recent report by the EU and din't like what it said. The statement mentions that information is becoming a raw material which needs to be protected and only gives passing note to privacy concerns. I wonder how many of the hard-lobbying German companies have been burnt by inadequate crypto; I remember a few stories about German companies losing technological advantages because their latest and greatest R&D was picked off from insecure emails etc.
It also states that the German government will try to raise crypto awareness, so not only will they allow its development, sell and use but they will actually promote crypto and an understanding of why it is important.
This rocks !
Hopefully this will not be too eagerly embraced by various 'youth organizations' and 'flight clubs'.
After all, in the US, encryption technology is STILL considered a munition. How would people in the surrounding countries (of Germany) feel if various para-military organizations - such as the Boy Scouts - started stockpiling munitions?
IMHO Germany has come a long way singe the 1930's, but I'm sure this is going to ruffle some feathers.
[/paranoid]
-- What you do today will cost you a day of your life.
This is a translation by Thomas Roessler, roessler@guug.de, as posted to the ukcrypto mailing list. Many thanks to him.
1. The Federal Government does not plan to limit the free
availability of encryption products in Germany. It considers the
application of secure encryption to be a crucial requirement for
the citizens' privacy, for the development of electronic
commerce, and for the protection of business secrets. The
Federal Government will therfore actively support the
distribution of secure encryption. This includes in particular
increasing the security consciousness of citizens, business, and
administration.
2. The Federal Government strives for strengthening users' trust in
the security of encryption. It will therefore take measures to
create a framework for trustworthy secure encryption, in
particular by improving the possibilities for reviewing
encryption products for their security, and by recommending the
use of reviewed products.
3. For reasons of national security, and the security of business
and society, the Federal Government considers the ability of
German manufacturers to develop and manufacture secure and
efficient encryption products indispensible. It will take
measures to strenghten the international competitiveness of this
sector.
4. The spreading of strong encryption must not undermine the legal
possibilities of prosecution and security authorities [police and
intelligence communities may be a better translation]. The
responsible Federal Ministries will cautiously watch the
development and present a report after two years. Additionally,
the Federal Government will work on improving the technical
skills of prosecution and security authorities.
5. The Federal Government attaches importance to international
cooperation on encryption policy. It encourages market-driven,
open standards and interoperable systems and will work to
strengthen multilateral and bilateral cooperation.
It's amazing to me how behind-the-times the U.S. appears at times. Though we claim to be the most technologically advanced, the trendsetters, etc., it's surprising how legally backwards we are when it comes to controlling access and the use of technology. (Try speaking that last sentence aloud and swap out "drugs" for "technology" Amazing how similar the arguments are, no?)