Forwarded From: <anonymous> Originally From: "Crypto.com" <webmasterat_private> ============================================================================== ___ _ _____ ____ _____ _ / _ \| | | ____| _ \_ _| | Don't let your member of Congress take a | |_| | | | _| | |_) || | | | vacation on privacy. Call Rep. Norton | _ | |___| |___| _ < | | |_| about privacy and security on the net! |_| |_|_____|_____|_| \_\|_| (_) August 21, 1998 (dcal) Please forward where appropriate until September 5, 1998 Posted August 21, 1998 This alert brought to you by The Center for Democracy & Technology _____________________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents Please contact your member of Congress during the August recess What you can do for encryption and privacy How the SAFE bill protects privacy online About this alert / How to unsubscribe / Register to vote _____________________________________________________________________________ PLEASE CONTACT YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS DURING THE AUGUST RECESS! Dear Supporter, As a participant in the Adopt-Your-Legislator campaign, you are part of an important community of Internet users on the front lines of the battle for the future of encryption and privacy on the Net. Your help is needed now to educate your legislators about a significant development in the encryption debate. Just last month, researchers in Silicon Valley built a computer that cracked online information protected by the Data Encryption Standard (DES) in less than three days. DES-level security is currently used in many products to protect your personal and financial information as it travels over the Internet. For years, the Administration has maintained that DES is adequate for online security and has prohibited the export of stronger encryption products without mandatory "back doors". Your member of Congress needs to hear that, as the DES cracking has demonstrated, current US policy will not protect our security online and *must change*. The SAFE (HR 695) bill, currently under consideration by Congress, would affirm our rights to strong encryption and relax out-dated export controls. Over the past few months, the FBI has stalled the progress of SAFE by mounting an extensive effort on Capitol Hill to push for sweeping new domestic surveillance requirements and for mandatory "back doors" in encryption technology. Although risky, the FBI's arguments are beginning to persuade some members of Congress. After all, this year is an election year -- some members of Congress are concerned that speaking out against the FBI could cost them votes at the polls in November. During this election year, members of Congress have reason to be particularly attentive to the opinions of their constituents. Don't let your member of Congress take a vacation on this important issue during the recess. The August recess is your chance to let Rep. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-AL) know that the folks back home care about encryption and privacy on the Internet. _____________________________________________________________________________ WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR ENCRYPTION AND PRIVACY Please take a moment to call Rep. Norton's office to support encryption and privacy. 1. Find out your member of Congress' position on encryption and privacy at: http://www.crypto.com/member/congress.cgi?membid=dcal 2. Call Rep. Norton's office at (202) 225-8050 3. Ask for the Staffer who handles encryption or privacy. 4. Urge Rep. Norton to support encryption and privacy and talk about the recent breaking of DES. If you are at a loss for words, say the following: Hi, I'm a constituent, and I'm calling to remind Rep Norton to support encryption and privacy. The recent cracking of the Data Encryption Standard shows that it's time for the government to reform encryption policy. 5. Let us know how it went! After you call, visit: http://www.crypto.com/feedback/index.cgi?membid=dcal Your feedback will help us track Rep. Norton's position on this issue and help us coordinate our efforts on the ground in Washington DC. 6. To further assist our outreach efforts, forward this ALERT to your friends in your neighborhood. To learn more about the cracking of DES, see our news item at: http://www.crypto.com/ _____________________________________________________________________________ HOW THE SAFE BILL PROTECTS PRIVACY ONLINE The SAFE bill (HR695) is a bipartisan bill with over 250 cosponsors in the House of Representatives. The SAFE bill would: * SAFE prohibits the Government from imposing mandatory "back-door" access to private online communications and business transactions; * SAFE affirms the rights of American citizens to use whatever from of encryption they choose, regardless of strength, inside the United States; and, * SAFE relaxes outdated export controls on encryption technologies that threaten privacy, stifle the growth of US businesses, and threaten US jobs. To learn more about the SAFE bill, access an archive of Reuters stories on encryption, and to learn more about the privacy debate, see: http://www.crypto.com/ -o- Subscribe: mail majordomoat_private with "subscribe isn". Today's ISN Sponsor: Repent Security Incorporated [www.repsec.com]
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