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EFFector Online Volume 5 No. 16 9/3/1993 editors@eff.org
A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation ISSN 1062-9424
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In this issue:
Changes to EFFector Online 5.15
Outline of Testimony Before NIST Advisory Board
Telecommunications Radio Project Returns
Coming Soon: Commercial Version of PGP!
O'Reilly Announces the Global Network Navigator
ASIS 1994 Mid Year Call for Papers
Yet *Another* Job Opening at EFF!
Donate Your Old Computers
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*******************************
Changes to EFFector Online 5.15
*******************************
Please note the following changes from EFFector Online 5.15.
Professor Spafford's address for the CFP'94 student paper competition is
(e-mail and phone were correct):
Professor Eugene Spafford
Department of Computer Sciences
1398 Computer Science Building
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 47907-1398
_____
EFF t-shirts are $10 with a $3 charge for shipping and handling. The
shirts are only currently available in extra large.
_____
The ASCII version of the Big Dummy's Guide to the Internet has already been
updated. The updated version is available by anonymous ftp from
ftp.eff.org. The location is still
***********************************************
Outline of Testimony Before NIST Advisory Board
***********************************************
On September 2, 1993, Jerry Berman and Bruce Heiman of the Digital Privacy
and Security Working Group, a coalition of over 50 telecommunications,
computer and public interest organizations chaired by EFF, testified before
the Computer System Security and Privacy Advisory Board to NIST on the
Administration's Clipper/Skipjack proposal. Here is an outline of the
testimony.
_____
Before the
COMPUTER SYSTEM SECURITY AND PRIVACY ADVISORY BOARD
Baltimore, MD
Comments of the
DIGITAL PRIVACY AND SECURITY WORKING GROUP
September 2, 1993
The Digital Privacy and Security Working Group has been meeting for almost
half a year discussing options for a new policy on cryptography, privacy,
and security. These comments represent a summary of the Working Group's
progress and will be presented in more complete form in a report to be made
public early in the fall.
GOALS
A. The Digital Privacy & Security Working Group shares the Clinton
Administration's goal of promoting the development of the National and
International Information Infrastructure
B. Critical attributes of the emerging information infrastructure are:
o Interoperability across a network of networks
o Adherence to national and international standards
o Security
o Privacy
C. DPSWG conclusions regarding security and privacy policy
o Strong encryption must be widely available in the market for the
NII and the III to succeed as new pathways for commerce and communication.
o Encryption used must be TRUSTED and must accommodate FLEXIBLE
IMPLEMENTATIONS.
o Encryption policy must assure compliance with constitutional
privacy guarantees while meeting the legitimate needs of law enforcement
and national security.
A PUBLIC POLICY AGENDA
We are aware that the Clinton Administration is in the process of
completing a comprehensive policy review in this area. Based on our common
goal of developing the National Information Infrastructure, we are hopeful
that we can reach agreement with the Administration on the following
principles as a framework for a new public policy on cryptography, privacy,
and security.
A. The private sector could accept Clipper/Slipjack as one of many
cryptographic systems, provided its use remains truly voluntary.
The user market must be allowed to pick the most appropriate cryptographic
tools, without undue interference of government purchasing power or
domestic legal barriers.
B. In order to promote the use and development of strong encryption
critical to the NII, the Administration should act swiftly to relax current
export controls on cryptography.
A critical indication of the voluntariness of Slipjack will be the
willingness of the Administration to relax export controls.
C. Even if a truly voluntary escrow system is proposed, many questions
must be answered by the Administration before any escrow system could be
accepted.
o Who will act as escrow agents?
o What public policy mechanism will guaranty that key escrow remains
a voluntary option?
o What public policy mechanism will guarantee the privacy and
security of escrowed keys?
o Who will be liable in the event of a security breach?
D. Before making a final decision on Clipper/Skipjack, a more complete
evaluation of law enforcement concerns must be presented publicly.
o No quantitative, cost-benefit analysis has yet been presented.
o No explanation of how a voluntary escrow system solves law
enforcement problems, given the continued availability of other
non-escrowed cryptography systems, has been offered.
o No public consideration of alternatives to escrow systems has been
undertaken.
E. Digital Telephony
o Documented problems have been rectified.
o There is a general willingness to establish a more formal
government-private sector consultation process to resolve any other
identifiable problems now or in the future.
o No justification for legislation exists at this time.
CONCLUSION
****************************************
Telecommunications Radio Project Returns
****************************************
The Telecommunications Radio Project at KPFA-FM in Berkeley is delighted
to announce the returen of our award-winning series "The Communications
Revolution."
Your support and participation with last year's series was fundamental
to its success both as it aired and afterwards as listeners called to
request tapes, transcripts, and resource guides in unprecedented
numbers. I hope that you will help us once again by sharing
information about "The Communications Revolution" with your friends,
colleagues, members, etc.
Following please find a list of this year's programs:
November 3, 1993 9am PST
Technophobia: The Social Disease of the '90s
Who invents these gadgets that come with a fifty page operator's manual?
Why is it that "user friendly" usaully isn't? Why do I need an
engineering degree to operate my VCR? And why aren't humane,
environmentally conscious values considered in the R&D of telecommunications?
November 10, 1993 9am PST
The New Sweatshops: The Glamour-less Electronics Industry
The popular image of hi-tech jobs doesn't include the segregated
workplace of immigrant workers in low pay, high stress, repetitive
and hazardous labor--all the ones who create the new gadgets and
gizmos of the computer age.
November 17, 1993 9am PST
Nintendo Over Baghdad: The Future of War
Will new hi-tech weaponry make the unthinkable thinkable? Can war now
be presented to the American public as a clean, sanitary affair,
causing minimal (and therefore acceptable) "collateral damage"? How are
telecommunications technologies contributing to a new mass
psychology regarding war?
November 24, 1993
When Your Health History Becomes Public Record
The federal government is talking about creating a centralized national
database for all our health records. They're already available to your
future employer, landlord, neighbor. What is your right to privacy
concerning your personal health history?
December 1, 1993
Art and Music through the Nets: The Death of Individual Creativity?
Interactive technologies increase accessibility to original art and music.
Will we see the end of copyrights? Who owns culture and what is
intellectual property in the age of electronic collaboration?
December 8, 1993
The New National Information Infostructure: What's in it for Me?
Internet, NREN, whatever you want to call it, an electronic interlink
between government, education, and business organizations is
rapidly taking shape. How are the big players jockeying for a
piece of the action, and will the average citizen be left out of the
game?
December 15, 1993
Electronic Porn and Computer Network Censorship
Cyberpunk culture dabbles in pornography and we have Playboy on
CD-ROM. Does anyone have a right to regulate or censor this material?
What are the issues surrounding the debate between civil liberties and
the protection of the public?
December 22, 1993
Occupational Hazards with Telecommunications Tools
Why is it that after years of repetitive motion on typewriters, carpal
tunnel syndrome is only now becoming widespread with the use of
computers? Is it something about the keyboards? What's the
latest on electromagnetic fields? VDT radiation?
December 29, 1993
Technology in the Classroom: No Substitute for Teachers?
Distance learning allows students from K through college access to
programs and materials not in their schools. A new global village
is being created in which kids learn from each other across continents.
Are these glitzy gadgets for the few or an answer to our national
crisis in education?
January 5, 1994
Update on Competition since Divestiture: Who Wins and Who Loses?
The phone companies are getting ready to compete for regional toll
calls, offer new services such as multiple TV channels and interactive
television. But some groups, such as rural residents, may be left
out. Basic and Lifeline rates may go up. What will be the
status of consumer protections with the new telecom technologies?
January 12, 1994
The Death of Privacy--and Forget About Anonymity too
Some workplaces now require that you carry a "smart card" so that you
can be located anytime. City employees in one western city were asked
to resign when the mayor read their e-mail messages--which were all
about him! What are our rights to privacy and anonymity in the
computer age?
January 19, 1994
Can Instant Global Telecommunications be a Tool for Social Change?
The environmental movement uses computer networks, fax, and
other telecom tools for organizing. But how effective are they really?
And how are conservative organizations networking in the '90s via
computer databases, fax, and modem?
January 26, 1994
Future Media: Instant News for Instant Views
Editorial control over content of news and increasing pressure on news
rooms to offer "infotainment" to the public is made easier by new
telecommunications news gathering tools. How is all this working and
what will be its effect on informing the public?
All shows will air at 9 am PST. For more information about the series
or for a list of stations carrying the show, please contact me at:
Kim Lau
Telecommunications Radio Project
KPFA-FM
1929 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley CA 94704
510-848-6767 ext. 264
510-883-0311 (fax)
***************************************
Coming Soon: Commercial Version of PGP
***************************************
Philip Zimmermann has signed an agreement with ViaCrypt, a division
of Lemcom Systems, Inc., to sell a commercial version of PGP. ViaCrypt
is a company in Phoenix, Arizona, that already has an RSA license from
Public Key Partners to sell products that use the RSA algorithm.
The freeware version of PGP will still be available and will be
maintained as well as the commercial version. Most corporations
were not willing to use PGP because it was not licensed by PKP
or RSA Data Security. With this commercial version of PGP, it will be
possible for PGP to enter commercial environments for the first time
and compete with other products such as PEM. This is expected to
enhance PGP's viability as a de facto standard in the long run.
ViaCrypt PGP will be available in the USA and Canada, for an introductory
price of $100 for a single user, with quantity discounts available.
For details, call ViaCrypt at (602) 944-0773, or contact Philip
Zimmermann at prz@acm.org.
**********************************
ASIS 1994 Mid Year Call for Papers
**********************************
Call For Participation
1994 Mid-Year Meeting, American Society for Information Science
Navigating the Networks
May 22 - 25, 1994
Red Lion Hotel, Columbia River
Portland, Oregon
With amazing speed electronic networking systems have grown up around us;
once simple roads leading directly to our destination have become a complex
of interchanges and intersections, whether seen or not. Networking has
experienced a phenomenal rate of growth (11,000 networks currently); the
need for road maps, directional signs and directories is painfully clear
and the implementation of wireless communications has barely begun.
What will the interfaces be in the future? Will there be "smart highways"
guiding drivers speed, direction, etc. and determining the best routing?
Will knowbots become the search vehicle of choice? Who, if anyone, will be
the electronic traffic cops and can we rely on either the legislatures or
the courts to determine our future? Will there be toll roads? Can the
electronic highways as we now know them (public networks) support both
individual users (passenger cars) and commercial users (the tractor
trailers of the digital highways)? What changes will take place in
publishing, both scholarly and commercial?
While online communicating via networks was once predominantly
academic/research, the corporate world is the fastest growing sector (over
500,000 users) of national and international network users. Commercial
growth, however, has been slowed by security concerns. How will legitimate
U.S. and corporate security concerns and individual privacy fears be
ameliorated in the new high speed data highway system? Will commercial
traffic fundamentally alter the education/research sense of community that
has grown up with Internet?
Will "sneaker nets," LANs and WANs, be replaced by wireless networks,
groupware and collaborative computer- supported work. What changes will
result in how we work and what we do? Will decisions inexorably become
more democratic but slower as has been predicted? Will the horns and
shouts of inner city traffic be a metaphor for the "white noise" of
computer lists and discussion groups? What tools exist for filtering out
"noise" and what impact will that have on our work?
Invitation
The 1994 ASIS Mid-Year Meeting, "Navigating the Networks" has as its focus
the human side of networks, the psychology and sociology of using networks.
What has been and will be the impact of networking technology on the
individual and on organizations, their structure and goals? Original
contributed papers are solicited on all aspects of networking use in
information management. Panel discussions exploring legal and
philosophical questions of use, quality, distribution, control, and
ownership are welcome. Presentations of new technologies or applications
to solve our information management problems are welcome. We invite
submissions of papers, panels, tutorials, demonstrations and original ideas
for programs on networking.
Types of Submissions
Contributed Papers
The initial intent to submit should include the title and an extended
outline or draft paper. Papers should address one or more of the issues
outlined above. Presenters of accepted papers will be allowed 15-25
minutes for delivery. All papers will be refereed. All intents to submit
papers must be received by September 1, 1993. Notification of acceptance
will be sent by December 1, 1993; camera ready papers will be due by
February 1, 1994.
Panel, Special Interest Group, and Other Presentations
Individual contributions and panel discussions are welcome. All intents to
organize sessions should include a description of 250 words indicating the
topic and proposed speakers to address the topic, with contact information
for all speakers. A form for proposing panel sessions is attached. All
intents to organize panel presentations and other program suggestions must
be received by September 30, 1993. Notification of acceptance will be sent
by December 1, 1993; a final list of speakers, with complete contact
information, and camera ready copy (full length if desired, or abstract)
will be due by February 1, 1994.
Two copies of your proposal and abstracts are required. A paper copy or
electronic copy (encouraged, e-mail or ASCII) should be sent to the
addresses below. You will receive instructions for submission of final
copy upon acceptance.
Pat Molholt
Asst. V.P. & Assoc. Dean for Scholarly Resources
Columbia University Health Sciences
Office of Scholarly Resources
701 West 168th Street, Room 201
New York, NY 10032
asis94my@columbia.edu
ASIS 1994 Mid-Year Meeting
8720 Georgia Avenue, Suite 501
Silver Spring, MD 20910
rhill@cni.org
In order to maintain the quality of ASIS meetings and to be sure that
meeting attendees can determine which presentations are most appropriate
for the individual needs, ASIS requires that all submissions/proposals
include the following information:
Name, job title, company and full address of each presenter.
Telephone, E-Mail, and fax number (if available) of each presenter.
A biographical sketch of each presenter (50 words max.).
The amount of time requested for the presentation (in 15 min. increments).
A session description that can appear in promotional materials.
Submissions without the above items will be returned for completion.
********************************
Yet *Another* Job Opening at EFF
********************************
Position Announcement
The Electronic Frontier Foundation
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
The Electronic Frontier Foundation, based in Washington, DC, is a public
interest organization that brings together legal, technical, and policy
expertise to address the democratic potential and social impact of new
computer and communications technologies. EFF has rapidly expanded its
influence in the national public policy arena, helping to find common
ground among the concerns of government, industry, and the public interest.
EFF promotes the broad social and economic benefits offered by new
information and communication technology while safeguarding principles of
freedom, openness, competitiveness, and the civil liberties of individual
citizens.
EFF is seeking an experienced Director of Communications to articulate and
communicate EFF's messages to a range of audiences. The Director of
Communications will work closely with the Membership Coordinator, who will
implement plans for membership development, and an Online Activist, who
will be responsible for getting EFF 's message out on electronic networks.
We're looking for an experienced wordsmith and ideasmith who can write and
edit a range of policy, press and promotional materials, help develop a
communication and membership strategy, define audiences, and develop themes
that speak to those audiences through the electronic, broadcast, and print
media. You must be an energetic, hands-on, team member who loves to write
on a range of topics with style, depth, and political sensibility, and you
should be comfortable with public speaking. Knowledge of public policy,
technology issues, and experience in a public interest setting preferred.
Applicants should be computer literate and have experience managing
multiple projects, deadlines, and collaborations. Minimum B.S./B.A. plus 5
years professional experience in a related field such as journalism,
politics, advertising, business communications, news or public relations.
A sense of humor is required. Excellent salary and benefits, and lively,
committed coworkers.
This position is in Washington, DC. No phone calls, please. To apply,
send resume, brief writing sample, cover letter and salary requirements by
September 27 to our recruiter:
Lisa Breit & Associates
54 Rich Valley Road
Wayland, MA 01778
You may apply by e-mail (ASCII only please). Address to: lbreit@eff.org
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.
*************************
Donate Your Old Computers
*************************
The Institute of Diplomacy and International Relations in Nairobi is in the
process of establishing a computer center. The Institute educates young
diplomats from all of Africa and would like to promote the use of
computers. They are looking for second-hand computers or any other
computer equipment. Contact Jovan Kurbalija, the Institute's temporary
computer consultant at Olewe.Nyunya@p430.f4.n731.z5.gnfido.fidonet.org if
you can help.
=============================================================
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Reproduction of this publication in electronic media is encouraged. Signed
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*This newsletter is printed on 100% recycled electrons.*
=============================================================
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In order to continue the work already begun and to expand our efforts and
activities into other realms of the electronic frontier, we need the
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If you support our goals and our work, you can show that support by
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Your membership/donation is fully tax deductible.
Our memberships are $20.00 per year for students and $40.00 per year for
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=============================================================
Mail to:
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Electronic Frontier Foundation
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Membership rates:
$20.00 (student or low income membership)
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