The prediction, in brief:

While the societal and economic benefits that would come from the proposed digital telephony legislation are difficult to quantify, the economic benefits of maintaining effective law enforcement through its capability of conducting authorized intercepts are estimated to be in the billions and many lives would likely be saved. These benefits are likely to increase with the growth in telecommunications.

Predictor: Denning, Dorothy

Prediction, in context:

The 1997 book “Computers, Ethics, and Society,” edited by M. David Ermann, Mary B. Williams and Michele S. Shauf, carries a reprint of the 1993 Communications of the ACM article “Digital Communications Must Not Weaken Law Enforcement” by Dorothy Denning. Denning argues that digital communications should be designed to allow tapping by the FBI. She writes:”While the societal and economic benefits that would come from the proposed digital telephony legislation are difficult to quantify, the economic benefits of maintaining effective law enforcement through its capability of conducting authorized intercepts are estimated to be in the billions and many lives would likely be saved. These benefits are likely to increase with the growth in telecommunications.”

Biography:

Dorothy Denning was a professor and chair of Computer Science at Georgetown University in the 1990s, by which time she had been in the field of computer security and cryptography for two decades. Previous to her arrival at GU, she worked at Digital Equipment Corporation, SRI International and Purdue University. Her books include “Cryptography and Data Security” and “Information Warfare and Security.” She authored many Internet research studies. She was the first president of the International Association for Cryptologic Research. (Research Scientist/Illuminator.)

Date of prediction: January 1, 1993

Topic of prediction: Controversial Issues

Subtopic: Privacy/Surveillance

Name of publication: Computers, Ethics, and Society (book)

Title, headline, chapter name: Digital Communication Must Not Weaken Law Enforcement

Quote Type: Direct quote

Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Pages 261, 262

This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne