Cryptography law is the body of law that relates to securing and protecting information from unauthorized access. Cryptography laws protect individuals from having their personal information disseminated without their consent. They also work to protect government secrets as part of a military defense strategy
Cryptography law is the body of law that relates to securing and protecting information from unauthorized access. Cryptography laws protect individuals from having their personal information disseminated without their consent. They also work to protect government secrets as part of a military defense strategy. Another name for cryptography law is encryption law.
What Is Cryptography?
Cryptography or encryption is the practice of modifying information with a secret encoding key or other method of transforming the information to another form. The purpose of encryption is to make sure that only authorized people have access to information. Obscuring or transforming information to a secret form is called encryption. Changing the information back to its original form is called decryption.
History of Cryptology Laws
In the early 20th century, government officials viewed cryptography as a critical issue of national security. For that reason, laws preventing the export of cryptography information and technology were strict. In fact, the U.S. government was so concerned about protecting cryptology systems that U.S. officials listed cryptologic systems as auxiliary military equipment. Officials required exporters to have a license in order to share cryptologic information with foreign individuals.
Loosening of cryptography Laws
With the advent of cryptography in modern commerce, cryptography laws began to loosen in the 1990s. Enforcement difficulties and the proliferation of modern technology prompted the changes in cryptography laws. While some controls still exist regarding export of cryptography, the laws are not as restricting as they were in the early and mid 20th century.
However, national governments continue to grapple with whether to allow the sharing and sale of encryption technologies. They also continue to question what restrictions to place on the use of the technology. U.S. law has not changed significantly since the the early 2000s. Non-military cryptology exports remain under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security.
The Use of Cryptology Technology Today
Today, cryptography law impacts business and industry as well as national security. Commercial encryption technology is critical for credit card purchases as well as money transfers. Businesses need to be able to send information securely and effectively between different nations.
Major Cryptology Legislation Affecting the United States
The Wassennar Agreement is a voluntary agreement between 42 member nations. The Agreement is a product of the Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls which sought to control the export of cryptography technology to the former Soviet Union. The Agreement requires participating nations to make voluntary disclosures of their export activities. The Agr