The odds are even that any form of encryption save “Clipper”-type will be outlawed, and – like guns – will be only available to law breakers (in the main).
Predictor: Farber, David J.
Prediction, in context:David Farber made the following remarks during a 1994 online forum on electronic privacy and the Clipper Chip, sponsored by Cowles Business Media’s Mobile Office Online: ”[By the end of the decade] I suspect we will be in an era where you will not do whistle-blowing over the network and phone and will be careful with what you say. I think the odds are even that any form of encryption save ‘Clipper’-type will be outlawed, and – like guns – will be only available to law breakers (in the main). Wish I felt a lot better. It is a hard task for EFF [Electronic Freedom Foundation] and EPIC [Electronic Privacy Information Center] cooperating together to protect our remaining Bill of Rights.”
Biography:David Farber was the recipient of the 1995 ACM Sigcomm Award for lifelong contributions to the computer communications field. He has worked at the University of Pennsylvania, managing research in high-speed networking. In 2000, he served as chief technologist at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. He also directed the Center for Communications and Information Sciences and Policy. In 1997, Upside magazine named him one of its Elite 100 visionaries of high-tech. (Research Scientist/Illuminator.)
Date of prediction: August 17, 1994
Topic of prediction: Communication
Subtopic: Security/Encryption
Name of publication: Mobile Office Online's Open Press Conference
Title, headline, chapter name: Electronic Privacy
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://www2.cddc.vt.edu/eff/pub/Misc/Publications/David_Farber/aol_privacy_conf.transcript
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Goodrich, Barbara J.