About ICF(International Cryptography Framework)

Has anyone heard anything or been paying attention to the development of
the ICF(International Cryptography Framework) standard.  This seems to
be an attempt of the US Gov and a FEW of our favorite corps to
completely control cryptography standards as well as to have the keys to
all cryptographical content.

The only information I've found so far is on HP's website

http://www.dmo.hp.com/gsy/security/icf/main.html

I've also managed to get a hold of Ray Bamford (ray_bamford@hp.com)at HP
who seems to have some PR role in this wool over the eyes attempt.  It
seems to be just another (souped-up, in disguise attempt at the clipper
chip except on an International basis).

When I spoke to him he told me that the only information that has been
issued is what you seen in the technical paper, and that the info they
have is extremely exclusive, even if you are a legitimate company
working on cryptography issues, etc.

Check it out...I would definitely like to hear your opinions as well as
if any of you have more information on this subject(newsgroups, mail
lists, etc).

-spanky

Pass me another! wrote:
> Okay...explain a done deal...

  A 'done deal' is where the Big Boys make all the decisions for the
rest of us, divide up the pie, and live happily ever after.
  (Unless, of course, somebody decides their piece of the pie isn't
big enough and they all start stabbing each other in the back.)

>  I thought that at
> one point the clipper chip was a done deal, but once it met the public
> eye, we blinked and rubbed that speck of dirt out....or so we thought.
> Where is our voice?  Does it no longer even exist????

  Sure it does. We get to say "Yes." and "How wonderful" as the Big Boys
slip us the cold, hard one from behind.
 
> > > I've also managed to get a hold of Ray Bamford
> > > (ray_bamford@hp.com)at HP
> > > who seems to have some PR role in this wool over the eyes attempt.
> >
> >   When you use the word 'censorship', does he counter-attack with the
> > word 'moderation'?
> 
> Geeeeee....how'd you guess?....Man these bootlickers make me sick.
> What's worse is some of these cronies I actually used to work with on a
> daily basis...but alas....because I was not bootlicker quality, I could
> no longer stay with the company I was working for.....Not Microsoft, not
> HP, not IBM...but damn those DAMNED chipmakers....

 The problem is that, once you're done licking their boots, they want
you
to set your sights a little higher.

Toto

Starr wrote:
> 
> Has anyone heard anything or been paying attention to the development of
> the ICF(International Cryptography Framework) standard.  This seems to
> be an attempt of the US Gov and a FEW of our favorite corps to
> completely control cryptography standards as well as to have the keys to
> all cryptographical content.

  It's not an 'attempt', its a 'done deal'.
  The new 'laws' have pretty much already been written to control 
cryptography world-wide. The only thing left is for the Big Boys
to fight over control (and the spoils).
  I have a relative involved in this farce.  For as long as I have
known him, he has always tended to get a 'pained' expression on his
face every time words like 'freedom' or 'rights' get slipped into
a conversation.

> I've also managed to get a hold of Ray Bamford (ray_bamford@hp.com)at HP
> who seems to have some PR role in this wool over the eyes attempt.

  When you use the word 'censorship', does he counter-attack with the
word 'moderation'?

Toto