The technology for a secure Web already exists. But we are manacled at the moment by U.S. export controls and encryption issues. I can’t speak for the whole W3 consortium, but when you look at designing a worldwide system, trying to limit the use of cryptography won’t work. I’m very much aware of the government’s worry about abuse of privacy. But my personal opinion is that the effort to prohibit [encryption] is becoming untenable.
Predictor: Berners-Lee, Tim
Prediction, in context:In a 1995 article in Government Computer News, associate editor Shawn P. McCarthy interviewed Tim Berners-Lee, designer of the World Wide Web, and Marc Andreessen, developer of the Mosaic browser. They shared their views on the Web and government involvement. In response to the question, ÒAre there on-line issues where the government should step back and stay out of the way?Ó Berners-Lee replies: ”From the R&D point of view, the technology for a secure Web already exists. But we are manacled at the moment by U.S. export controls and encryption issues. I can’t speak for the whole W3 consortium, but when you look at designing a worldwide system, trying to limit the use of cryptography won’t work. I’m very much aware of the government’s worry about abuse of privacy. But my personal opinion is that the effort to prohibit [encryption] is becoming untenable.Ó
Date of prediction: January 1, 1995
Topic of prediction: Communication
Subtopic: Security/Encryption
Name of publication: Government Computer News
Title, headline, chapter name: They Made the Web Spun Round the World
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Page 24
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne