The crypto controversy

the long version

"Cryptography is essential for information security and electronic commerce, yet it can also be abused by criminals to thwart police wiretaps and computer searches. How should governments address this conflict of interests? Will they require people to deposit crypto keys with a 'trusted' agent? Will governments outlaw cryptography that does not provide for law-enforcement access? Can the police require suspects to hand over keys thus infringing the privilege against self-incrimination? Or should law enforcement forget about wiretapping and computer searches altogether?" "Bert-Jaap Koops, who studied mathematics and literature, worked at the law faculty of Tilburg University and the mathematics department of Eindhoven University of Technology. The author of the Crypto Law Survey website discusses possible ways to address the crypto controversy, analyzes the arguments pro and con domestic regulation of cryptography, and puts these into perspective. Koops proposes a method to balance the conflicting interests and applies this to the Dutch situation, explaining both technical and legal issues for anyone interested in the subject."--Jacket.