[1360] in cryptography@c2.net mail archive
Re: Drastic crypto crackdown
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jim Gillogly)
Tue Aug 26 10:10:11 1997
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 97 17:04:50 PDT
From: jim@mentat.com (Jim Gillogly)
To: cryptography@c2.net
Griffin <lpchiew@pc.jaring.my> wrote:
> tzeruch@ceddec.com wrote:
>
> > Probably because they do not allow use or import of strong
> > cryptographic
> > software. It is a fusion of the countries that we don't want to have
> > crypto software, and those that themselves don't want it imported.
>
> Interesting to see how people in the West can conjure out reasons
> and gives a different picture of the situation.
People aren't conjuring it out of whole cloth. The most reliable
compendium of import/export laws is Koops' excellent pages:
http://cwis.kub.nl/~frw/people/koops/lawsurvy.htm
The short form: he says the Trade Development Board requires you to
obtain approval for importing cryptography, and only 40-bit systems
seem to be available locally. In addition, SingTel subscribers must
obtain prior approval from the Telecommunications Authority of
Singapore to send encrypted messages across the Singapore
Telecommunications lines.
If this is correct, it's not surprising that PGP or others wouldn't
encourage people to download freely, since they have no way to verify
that potential customers have gotten these approvals.
If it's incorrect, please send mail to E.J.Koops@kub.nl with
your references so that he can correct it.
Jim Gillogly
jim@acm.org
