Encrypted text illegal across US borders?

I've been told that it is illegal for us to transmit encrypted text to
locations outside the borders of the US (i.e. sending email across the
Atlantic that is encrypted).

Is this true?

**************************************************
* Allen J. Baum              tel. (408)974-3385  *
* Apple Computer, MS/305-3B                      *
* 1 Infinite Loop                                *
* Cupertino, CA 95014        baum@apple.com      *
**************************************************

Allen J. Baum says:
> I've been told that it is illegal for us to transmit encrypted text to
> locations outside the borders of the US (i.e. sending email across the
> Atlantic that is encrypted).
> 
> Is this true?

No US laws prohibit transmitting encrypted text, although some kinds
of text may be illegal to transmit, encrypted or non-encrypted. Other
countries may have laws prohibiting the transport of encrypted text
across THEIR borders, but the US isn't one.

Perry

>Date: Mon, 1 Aug 94 14:11:44 PDT
>From: baum@apple.com (Allen J. Baum)
>Subject: Encrypted text illegal across US borders?

>I've been told that it is illegal for us to transmit encrypted text to
>locations outside the borders of the US (i.e. sending email across the
>Atlantic that is encrypted).
>
>Is this true?

I'm no lawyer, but no, this is not true.

(There are some foreign countries which take a dim view of encrypted traffic
coming in, but the US has no laws against it.)

Who told you this?

 - Carl

> 
> I've been told that it is illegal for us to transmit encrypted text to
> locations outside the borders of the US (i.e. sending email across the
> Atlantic that is encrypted).
> 
> Is this true?
>

No. Not only is it not true, it would be virtually impossible to enforce
were it actually true. 

You should slap the person who told you this with a yard stick.  ,-)

- paul