Encryption algorithms were illegal to manufacture/export without a license from a US governmental department...

GtPrOjEcTX

Lifer
Jul 3, 2001
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Encryption algorithms were illegal to manufacture/export without a license from a US governmental department until 4-5 years ago.

Why? What department made it so? Why did it change?
 

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
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fobot.com
they didn't want enemies of the US to be able to encode stuff that our intelligence community couldn't break, at least they didn't want US companies/people giving it away

or something like that
 

Staples

Diamond Member
Oct 28, 2001
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^^^^^^^

That and when PGP came out and realized that they couldn't regulate it, the US Gov finally backed down.
 

GtPrOjEcTX

Lifer
Jul 3, 2001
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Originally posted by: FoBoT
they didn't want enemies of the US to be able to encode stuff that our intelligence community couldn't break, at least they didn't want US companies/people giving it away

or something like that
so the goverment wanted a peak, to know how to decrypt it if need be.
 

GtPrOjEcTX

Lifer
Jul 3, 2001
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81
which department made it illegal, and then lifted it?

edit: FBI and FINCEN (is that a department?) ?
 

GtPrOjEcTX

Lifer
Jul 3, 2001
10,784
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I thought that was true. Thanks for the link.

I know France restricted exports of encryption before too, do they still?