MIT Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
Cryptology, Technology, and Politics
Dr. Whitfield Diffie
Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Thursday, October 17, 1996
4:00 PM (3:15 refreshments)
Edgerton Hall, Room 34-101
LCS Distinguished Lecture
Abstract
From World War I on, interception of communications took its place beside
traditional human intelligence as a vital implement of state power. Over
the past two decades, a combination of falling costs and new technologies
have made high-grade cryptography widely available. This threatens many
communications intelligence sources --- though probably not communications
intelligence itself. The result has been a series of panicky government
attempts to control the spread of cryptographic technology. As long as
individuals have access to computers that really 'work for them,' such
attempts are unlikely to succeed. The opponents of cryptography may,
nonetheless, damage both our democracy and our economy with their efforts.
Host: Professor Michael Dertouzos
URL of this page:
http://www-eecs.mit.edu/AY96-97/events/8.html
Created: Sep 29, 1996
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Modified: Jun 24, 1997
This announcement is from the MIT EECS 1996-97 archive.
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