The S.A.F.E. Act: Safety and Freedom through Encryption

Hilbert College

Annotated Bibliography:

The Safe Act

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(Note: This paper was written at the University of South Carolina)

Capitol Hill Hearing. (September 16, 1999) Press conference with Representative Dick Armey and Representative Robert Goodlatte.

This is the text of the Capitol Hill Press Conference with Representatives Armey and Goodlatte. In it, they discuss the Clinton administration and the Republican computer encryption initiatives. They talk about all the work that Goodlatte has done for the SAFE Act and the benefits that would come from it being passed.

Congress. (May 25, 1999)The Security and Freedom through Encryption (SAFE) Act. Y 4.C 73/8: 106-28

This is the hearing before the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection at the 106th Congress, First Session on H.R. 850. It is the complete text of that session of Congress and includes the testimonies of everyone who spoke about the SAFE Act.

Congress. (July 30, 1997)H.R. 695, The Security and Freedom through Encryption (SAFE) Act. Y 4.Se 2/1A: 997-98/23

This is the hearing before the Committee on National Security at the House of Representatives. It is the complete text of what happened at this hearing concerning the SAFE Act.

Congress. (June 24, 1997) H.R. 695: Security and Freedom through Encryption (SAFE) Act. Y 4.IN 8/16: SE 2/4

This is the markup before the Subcommittee on International Economic Policy and Trade at the 105th Congress. It is the complete text of that session of Congress and is one of the first times that the SAFE Act was introduced to Congress.

Congress. (April 27, 1999) Security and Freedom through Encryption (SAFE) Act. Y 1.1/8: 106-117/PT.1

Mr. Coble, from the Committee on the Judiciary, submitted this report to Congress. In it, he states that the Committee on the Judiciary recommend that the SAFE act pass in order to affirm the rights of United States persons to use and sell encryption.

CongressDaily/AM. (September 24, 1999) Safe Act Unclear After Latest Encryption Moves.

This article describes how the White House has taken much of the wind out of the legislation to loosen their controls encryption and how the industry groups and their allies on Capitol Hill are taking a cautious course of action in their next move. They, and other supporters of the SAFE bill wish to keep it alive to ensure that the White House will deliver the changes of allowing the export of encryption products as it promised to do.

Forbes, Steve. (April 21, 1997) Thwarting Internet Thieves and Peeping Toms. Forbes. v159 n8.

This article discusses how the SAFE Act may face strong opposition from various law enforcement agencies. The author, however, explains exactly what the bill would do and how it is critical to protect privacy on the Internet. He also describes how the bill will help put an end to ending theft and industrial espionage.

Goodlatte, Bob. (1999) The Safety and Encryption Act of 1999. Online: http://www.house.gov/goodlatte/encrypt.htm/

This site of Congressman Bob Goodlatte describes several aspects of the SAFE Act. It gives a general summary of the bill, along with its full text. It also discusses current news and the latest updates of what is happening with the bill. Goodlatte includes links to various supporters of the Security and Freedom through Encryption Act.

Harrison, Ann. (March 22, 1999) Privacy Activists Push Congress to Ease Encryption Limits. Computerworld.

This article describes the efforts that were being made by Bob Goodlatte and his supporters to get the SAFE Act through the House of Representatives. Even though the bill failed once last year, Goodlatte still believes that the legislation needs to keep Americans safe from online predators through more advanced encryption policies.

Mitchell, Russ. (October 13, 1997) Is the FBI Reading Your Mail? US News and World Report.

This article goes into a law that Congress considered passing, which would give law enforcement the right to access everyoneÕs computer. This was referred to as the mandatory key recovery, and it is something that the SAFE Act would ban measures such as this. The author discusses the benefits of the SAFE Act being brought to law.

Null, Christopher. (November 1999) Encrypt Your Mail, Go To Jail. PC/Computing.

The focus of this article is encryption, not only in the United States, but also abroad. It discusses the need to relax encryption policies. It also gives the standpoint of those who strongly oppose it, like President Clinton, Attorney General Janet Reno, and FBI director Louis Freeh and how they are hindering the SAFE Act from being passed.

Rabinovitz, Jonathan. (September 16, 1999) US To Change Encryption-Export Policy. Knight Ridder/Tribune Service.

In this article, Rabinovitz discusses how the government is preparing to reverse two decades of past policies in order to protect electronic privacy through the export of advanced hardware and software. The steps that the government is taking to enact the new policy are mentioned, along with the arguments of those who oppose it. The article continues to bring up the point that although encryption has always been legal for Americans to use, this is the first time that the government will have allowed it to be exported.

Reinsch, William A. and Bob Goodlatte. (September 8, 1997). Q: Should Uncle Sam Control US Encryption Technology Exports? Insight on the News. v13 n33.

This article discusses the two arguments that the Security and Freedom through Encryption Act was initially intended to solve. One of these was the fact that placing export control on US encryption products would cause these controls to protect the market share of US firms. The other side was that these controls would cause the loss of jobs in the US. The two men both explain how the SAFE Act will be a solution to these two theories.

Thomas (1999) Bill Summary and Status for 105th . Online: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d105:HR00695:@@@D

This page of the Thomas Legislative Information on the Internet gives a detailed summary of the Security and Freedom through Encryption Act. It also includes the up-to-date current information of the bill and all it went through in the House.

United States Department of Justice (1999) Encryption and Computer Crime. Online: http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/cybercrime/crypt.html/

This section of the United States Department of JusticeÕs page on computer crime and intellectual property relays and answers several frequently asked questions about the encryption policies of our nation. It includes a letter from U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno to members of Congress regarding law enforcementÕs concerns related to encryption. It also has the record of various Senate hearings regarding the issue and the testimonies of those involved.

Weaver, Heather Forsgren. (August 30, 1999) DOJ Encryption Bill Headed For Rocky Hill Reception. Radio Communications Report.

This article discusses how Congressional offices are planning to fight a Justice Department proposal that would allow law enforcement to enter peopleÕs homes and disable encryption products without the ownersÕ knowledge. The computer industry has been trying to get export controls on encryption technology relaxed, but the FBI and National Security Agency have resisted.

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