Re: I confess [Was: Who was that Masked Cypherpunk?]

At 12:56 PM 7/5/96 -0400, Jim Ray wrote:

>'Twas me, the guardian of the *original* definition of the fine old
>term "escrow" against the slick denizens of Newspeak. I have found
>this Libertarian convention to be a super-fun experience, and I will
>be demonstrating PGP, Private Idaho, and lots of other fun stuff on
>Saturday at 3PM. All are invited to attend.

Since no one has mentioned exactly what happened at the LP Convention, I
will relate it from memory and JR can correct me.

They were going to vote on adopting a platform plank that upheld the right
of everybody to use any crypto they wanted and export it an everything and
also opposing the proposal for a requirement that people use a key escrow
system set up by the government.

JR offered an amendment which changed the language to refer to "so-called
Key Escrow (actually government access to keys GAK)"  and he also explained
that "escrow" is where you place something with a trusted third party and
the government is neither trusted nor a third party.  He mentioned
cypherpunks live on CSPAN.

Maybe when JR finished the Con he can post the original proposed language of
the LPs plank and the final language as amended.

DCF

Excerpts from internet.cypherpunks: 5-Jul-96 Re: I confess [Was: Who
was.. by Duncan Frissell@panix.co 
> JR offered an amendment which changed the language to refer to "so-called
> Key Escrow (actually government access to keys GAK)"  and he also explained
> that "escrow" is where you place something with a trusted third party and
> the government is neither trusted nor a third party.  He mentioned
> cypherpunks live on CSPAN.
>  
> Maybe when JR finished the Con he can post the original proposed language of
> the LPs plank and the final language as amended.


I was sitting not far from Jim when he offered the amendment; I remember
it passing overwhelmingly. However, I don't think think the word "GAK"
was in there -- just "government access to keys."

The change to the platform, including Jim's amendment, passed unanimously.

-Declan