[3183] in cryptography@c2.net mail archive
Re: An Essay on Freedom, Anonymity & Financial
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Arnold G. Reinhold)
Mon Aug 10 15:16:30 1998
In-Reply-To: <199808100432.XAA01139@tecaprocorp.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 06:06:11 -0400
To: dianelos@tecapro.com, cryptography@c2.net
From: "Arnold G. Reinhold" <reinhold@world.std.com>
At 11:32 PM -0500 8/9/98, Dianelos Georgoudis wrote:
>Dianelos Georgoudis writes:
>>> Consider: almost all crimes are about money. In an international
>>> system where money is by definition stamped with the identity of
>>> its current and previous owners, stealing money, for example,
>>> would be impossible. [=D6]
>>
I do not agree that almost all crimes are about money. Consider:
Murder (majority by people with emotional relation to victim)
Rape
Spouse abuse
Child abuse
Vandalism
Hate crimes
Terrorism
> ...Government corruption would largely
> disappear because bribery would become a complicated matter.
>
Bribery is already a complicated matter in developed countries. Much of it
is done by indirect means: consulting fees, campaign contributions, barter
(new car, vacations, sex, etc.), promises of future employment, investment
opportunities that can't lose, favors to constituents, etc. Blackmail and
threats of violence are also effective in corrupting governments.
Unfortunately, the traceable society that Mr. Georgoudis seems to prefer is
coming into existence all too quickly. This is the counter argument to law
enforcement's claim that in seeking automatic access to encryption keys
they are just preserving the present "balance." Information technology is
tipping the balance way in the favor of government control. Public access
to strong crypto is the only contervailing trend. That is why the fight to
preserve access to strong crypto is so important.
Arnold Reinhold
Got crypto? http://ciphersaber.gurus.com
