2.10.1. "Does the NSA monitor this list?"
- Probably. We've been visible enough, and there are many
avenues for monitoring or even subscribing to the List.
Many aliases, many points of presence.
- some concerns that Cypherpunks list has been infiltrated
and is a "round up list"
- There have even been anonymous messages purporting to name
likely CIA, DIA, and NSA spooks. ("Be aware.")
- Remember, the list of subscribers is _not_ a secret--it can
be gotten by sending a "who cypherpunks" message to
majordomo@toad.com. Anyone in the world can do this.
2.10.2. "Is this list illegal?"
- Depends on the country. In the U.S., there are very strong
protections against "prior restraint" for published
material, so the list is fairly well -protected....shutting
it down would create a First Amendment case of major
importance. Which is unlikely. Conspiracy and sedition laws
are more complex to analyze; there are no indications that
material here or on the list is illegal.
- Advocacy of illegal acts (subversion of export laws,
espionage, etc.) is generally legal. Even advocating the
overthrow of the government.
- The situation in other countries is different. Some
countries ban unapproved encryption, so this list is
suspect.
- Practically speaking, anyone reading this list is probably
in a place which either makes no attempt to control
encryption or is unable to monitor what crosses its
borders.
2.10.3. "Can keystrokes really be monitored remotely? How likely is
this?"
- Yes. Van Eck, RF, monitors, easy (it is claimed) to build
this
- How likely? Depends on who you are. Ames, the KGB spy, was
probably monitored near the end, but I doubt many of us
are. The costs are simply too high...the vans outside, the
personnel needed, etc.
- the real hazards involve making it "easy" and "almost
automatic" for such monitoring, such as with Clipper and
EES. Then they essentially just flip a switch and the
monitoring happens...no muss, no fuss.
2.10.4. "Wouldn't some crimes be stopped if the government could
monitor what it wanted to?"
- Sure. This is an old story. Some criminals would be caught
if their diaries could be examined. Television cameras in
all homes would reduce crimes of .... (Are you listening,
Winston?).
- Orwell, fascism, surveillance states, what have you got to
hide, etc.
By Tim May, see README
HTML by Jonathan Rochkind