Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

["Alan MacHett" <machett AT ibiblio.org>]

In response to Michael Best's message(s):
> Alan,
>
> One issue is where do you draw the line.  Would the rules for VoIP outlaw
> software such as PGPfone that does not provide for wiretaps?
>
> -- Michael
>

[late reply; my apologies]
... The NSA already attempted such a thing back in the early/mid '90s with
the original PGP. _Crypto_ by Steven Levy entertainingly covers that tale.
 The gubmint categorizes crypto as an armament, and as such it carries
severe export restrictions.  However, the cat is out of the bag, so to
speak, and the powers that be recognized this.  They would like for us to
not have such capability, but I think they realized it would not be worth
the furor it would cause for them to outlaw it.  Besides, they also
realized there are ways around the problem, such as key escrow, for one.

My original reply was intended to point out that people are getting bent
out of shape about a new variation of an existing capability.  With or
without VOIP wiretaps, the FBI has numerous other means of obtaining
someone's "private" communications.  Hell, even with PGPfone it wouldn't
matter, if the FBI has obtained court approval to install a keylogger on a
suspect's computer, thus obtaining said suspect's key.  But, to be honest,
it's not that important an issue.  Properly implementing secure
communications or security in general is difficult, to say the least. 
Most people and certainly most criminals are lazy, so they never properly
implement the necessary protocols; and ¡voila! the FBI gets to listen in
anyway.

>> -----Next-To-Original Message-----
>> From: Alan MacHett [mailto:machett AT ibiblio.org]
>> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2004 7:28 PM
>> To: internetworkers AT lists.ibiblio.org
>> Subject: Re: [internetworkers] Feds step up push to wiretap VoIP calls
>>
>>
>> And if anyone is really that worried, then may I present:
>> http://www.pgpi.org/products/pgpfone/
>>
>> -Alan
>>