FC: Reason's C. Young: Encryption is "scary," put up with surveillance

From: Declan McCullagh (declanat_private)
Date: Wed Sep 26 2001 - 15:16:16 PDT

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    http://www.reason.com/cy/cy092401.html
    
        September 24, 2001
        Civil liberties may take a hit
        By Cathy Young
    
        [...]
    
        The movements of foreign visitors will be scrutinized more closely.
        Perhaps most alarming to many civil libertarians, it's likely that the
        government will expand its ability to monitor electronic mail, which
        has been a controversial issue for some time.
    
        Do I like the idea of the government intercepting e-mail? No. But, as
        long as there's judicial oversight and due process, that's no
        different from its longstanding power to intercept regular mail.
    
        Do I like the idea of people being able to encrypt electronic
        communications so that they are beyond surveillance? Frankly, I found
        it scary even before Sept. 11 - precisely because of the threat of
        terrorism.
    
        It is said that there are no atheists in foxholes; perhaps there are
        no true libertarians in times of terrorist attacks.
    
        Even in the Declaration of Independence, the right to liberty is
        preceded by the right to life.
    
    
    
    
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