[3611] in cryptography@c2.net mail archive
Fwd: Crypto policy in Finland
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Kathleen Ellis)
Tue Nov 10 00:08:53 1998
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1998 18:27:06 -0500 (EST)
From: Kathleen Ellis <protozoa@tux.org>
To: cryptography@c2.net
No major surprises here, but it's another chalked-in hash mark
for the 'good guys' side.
>Dear recipient,
>
>The Ministry of Transport and Communications of Finland gave today an
>international press release which may be of interest to you. It outlines
>the national cryptography policy in Finland. As you have an extensive
>mailing list of experts in this field, you might want to consider to share
>this information with them. I would be grateful if you did. For further
>information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Joel Jaakkola
>legal adviser
>Ministry of Transport and Communications, Finland
>t. +358 9 1609151
>f. +358 9 1602588
>e. joel.jaakkola@lm.vn.fi
>
>****
>
>
> 9.11.1998
>
>
>Finland Announces a National Cryptography Policy
>
>The Ministry of Transport and Communications of Finland published the
>national cryptography policy in English on the Internet. The policy was
>agreed by the Finnish Government on October 7th, 1998.
>
>The Government was unanimous that nationally there should be no
>restrictions on the use of strong encryption for confidentiality purposes.
>There should be no mandatory key recovery systems either, at least not
>provided for by law. Businesses and private persons should be encouraged
>to use voluntary key management systems. However, they are not obliged to
>do so by law and there will be no special privileges or rights offered by
>public authorities for that purpose.
>
>With regard to exports and export restrictions, Finland observes those
>arrangements to which it is internationally committed. However, with
>regard to reform of control lists and procedures Finland's aims are to
>examine the restrictions on cryptographic products so that control lists
>correspond to technical development, and to ensure that the necessary
>restrictions will not unreasonably impede normal foreign trade of industry
>and businesses.
>
>The complete policy can be found on the website
>http://www.vn.fi/lm/telecom.htm. The policy guidelines and the
>accompanying memorandum were prepared by the Ministry of Transport and
>Communications in close consultation with other ministries and law
>enforcement authorities. The ministry has also noted the remarks made by
>the industry.
>
>Furthermore, a proposal for a new law on privacy in the telecommunications
>sector is being studied by the Finnish Parliament. The law, which is to
>enter into force in the coming months, would provide everyone for the
>right to use any technical means available to ensure the confidentiality
>of his or her telecommunications messages.
>
>
>****
>
