Lawmaker: More encryption needed
A U.S. lawmaker well versed in technology issues said Friday that government bodies and citizens should use more encryption, not less, to increase security on the Internet.
In the wake of last Tuesday's hijackings that left more than 6,500 Americans dead or missing, policy-makers have called for limits on popular encryption software that allows users to scramble Internet communications for privacy.
The Central Intelligence Agency said earlier this year that encryption software was in use by radical Islamic groups such as Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda, believed to be behind the attacks last week. But Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., said after a Capitol Hill panel on Internet security that proposed remedies such as "trapdoors" to allow government surveillance would effectively make Internet communications less secure.
"That's like telling people to take their house key down to the police station," Goodlatte said. "People are not going to have greater confidence in their security by doing that."
Goodlatte led congressional efforts several years ago to loosen export controls on encryption technology, ultimately prevailing over opposition from the National Security Agency and the FBI.
Reimposing export limits would not limit the availability of encryption software, as it is widely available overseas, he said. Instead, it would place U.S. software companies at a competitive disadvantage. Goodlatte said more U.S. businesses and government agencies should use encryption to guard against future computer-based attacks that could disable power plants, banking systems and other critical infrastructures.
Goodlatte said he would bring his concerns to Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, who was appointed yesterday to head U.S. efforts to defend against terrorism.
