The prediction, in brief:

Tell us, once and for all, are we going to have a law that bans private encryption – forcing us to become a nation of crypto-outlaws – or is this Administration going to promise to stand by our current freedom to use any encryption technology we choose?

Predictor: Meeks, Brock N.

Prediction, in context:

In the August 1, 1994, edition of Computer-Mediated Communications Magazine, the article, “Jacking in from the ‘Where’s the Middle Ground?’ Port” by Brock N. Meeks, presents responses about the Clinton administration’s Clipper Chip. Meeks writes:”Earlier this month, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) took steps to hold the Administration responsible for its Keystone Kop approach to encryption policy. Leahy insisted that language be added to the Justice Dept. Appropriations Committee Report that would force the White House to make a full accounting of Clipper. According to the Appropriations language, the White House has to provide answers to nine pointed questions … Probably most important of all, the White House will have to go to the well and answer this one: ÔIs it in fact the President’s position that no law, regulation, or procedure requires the use of the key escrow technology and the associated Escrowed Encryption Standard?Õ In other words, tell us, once and for all, are we going to have a law that bans private encryption – forcing us to become a nation of crypto-outlaws – or is this Administration going to promise to stand by our current freedom to use any encryption technology we choose?”

Biography:

Brock Meeks was a former Washington, D.C., bureau chief for MSNBC. Previously, he had been Washington Bureau Chief for Wired/HotWired and INTER@CTIVE WEEK, and prior to that, he spent two years as associate editor for Communications Daily, a Washington, D.C.-based newsletter. He won awards from the Computer Press Association for his writing on various topics. (Author/Editor/Journalist.)

Date of prediction: January 1, 1994

Topic of prediction: Communication

Subtopic: Security/Encryption

Name of publication: Computer-Mediated Communication

Title, headline, chapter name: Jacking in from the ‘Where’s the Middle Ground?’ Port

Quote Type: Direct quote

Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://www.december.com/cmc/mag/1994/aug/meeks.html

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