Federal officials seek Internet encryption codes
Under federal law, computer users have a reasonable expectation of privacy
when browsing the Internet and sending e-mail, but federal officials want
to make their investigations easier by getting the keys to the codes that
can encrypt Internet transmissions. Authorities would use the code under
the same circumstances it reads someone's e-mail, namely, with a warrant.
The dispute over the encryption of e-mail and other online activity
is still brewing. A bill is before the House of Representatives. Currently,
federal law treats advanced encryption software like munitions, restricting
its export. But law enforcement agencies want a method that would allow
them to decode encrypted messages quickly. FBI Director Louis Freeh asked
members of a congressional subcommittee in September to outlaw "unbreakable"
encryption technology. (November 4, 1997)
White House paging system is not secure
Hackers who reputedly intercepted messages from the White House paging
system on April 27, 1997, have been circulating the messages on the Web.
Although the validity of the messages has not been confirmed, White House
workers have been instructed that the pager system is not secure. (September
22, 1997)
Bill calls for greater Net and cell phone privacy protection
A bill has been introduced to Congress that would bar companies from disclosing
or using people’s medical or financial records that are available online.
The bill would also require companies to adopt guidelines to protect user
privacy when personal information is collected from them online for marketing
purposes.
A separate bill would increase penalties against people who eavesdrop
on cellular telephone conversations and then pass the contents to another
party. The bill would also render illegal the modifying of a radio scanner
to pick up cellular phone calls. (September 3, 1997)
Experts crack digital cellular phone code
Using information found on the Internet, computer security experts cracked
a code that protects the privacy of calls made with new digital cellular
phones. Breaking the code would allow someone to scan hundreds of wireless
channels for calls miles away. The industry committee that oversees cellular
phone privacy is working to solve the problem. (September 2, 1997)
Interception of pager messages prosecuted for the first time
Federal prosecutors have filed charges against a group that intercepted
pager messages to the New York mayor’s office and to the fire and police
departments. The group then relayed the messages to news organizations.
In the first ever prosecution of interception of pager messages, the group
is charged with violating the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. (August
28, 1997)