The spectres of uncontrollable terrorism, organized crime and child pornography … would be unleashed if strong encryption were handed to the masses.
Predictor: Baker, Stewart
Prediction, in context:In a 1994 article in New Scientist magazine, the discussion of encryption includes a reference to the points of view expressed by Stewart Baker: ”There was less sympathy for the NSA’s Stewart Baker, whose seven-point defence of Clipper raised the spectres of uncontrollable terrorism, organized crime and child pornography that would be unleashed if strong encryption were handed to the masses. This is ignoring the fact that a number of ‘the masses’ already have access to strong encryption in the form of PGP (for ‘Pretty Good Privacy’) and other freeware programs (macros and the like), which have been available worldwide for years (British sources include CIX and Demon).”
Biography:Stewart Baker was described by The Washington Post (Nov. 20, 1995) as “one of the most techno-literate lawyers around.” Baker’s Washington, D.C., practice covered issues relating to digital commerce, electronic surveillance, encryption, privacy, national security and export controls. (Legislator/Politician/Lawyer.)
Date of prediction: January 1, 1994
Topic of prediction: Controversial Issues
Subtopic: Crime/Fraud/Terrorism
Name of publication: New Scientist
Title, headline, chapter name: Code, Decode in Secret
Quote Type: Paraphrase
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=71f9d93b52132f5073cb2cee1327e562&_docnum=4&wchp=dGLbVlb-lSlzV&_md5=f5bf648196fd3ebef2f8c269dac78d84
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Beckett, Angela