Australians oppose US encryption restriction: survey - News - Security

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This story was printed from ZDNet Australia.
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Australians oppose US encryption restriction: survey

By Byron Kaye, ZDNet Australia
September 27, 2001
URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/security/soa/Australians-oppose-US-encryption-restriction-survey/0,130061744,120260770,00.htm

Australians are opposed to restrictions on network encryption, even though US officials have blamed the technology for unmonitored communication between terrorist groups, a ZDNet Australia survey has found.

The online survey, which drew almost 400 responses from ZDNet Australia readers, found that 88 percent of respondents were opposed to restrictions on encryption technology.

Only 12 percent said restricting use of encryption technology would constitute a -legitimate business tool".

That represented a stark difference in opinion between Australian and American punters.

A similar poll conducted in the US found that 72 percent of Americans believed anti-encryption laws would be -somewhat" or -very" useful in curbing communication between terrorist groups.

US defence experts said ready access to encryption technologies had enabled transnational terrorist networks to communicate freely in the lead up to attacks on September 11; US government officials called for international support to restrict public access to the technology.

The Australian federal government would not disclose its plans regarding the technology.