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Agreed. That was my first thought when law enforcement started getting press for screaming "think of the children". I'm surprised and disappointed that people have apparently forgotten recent history.

This is why I greatly respect historian as a profession.

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Another reason why Clipper Chip was a Very Bad Idea is that, when strong encryption without back doors is outlawed, only outlaws will know how to make secure crypto. It would have created a War on Forbidden Knowledge. Brrrr.

Also, what could the U.S. government do when this knowledge is so widespread and in so many forms at this point? Take down notices to github? Cease and desist orders to Linus Torvalds? The encryption cat is out of the bag to a certain degree. Legislation along this line would simply further harm U.S. business interest in the global marketplace, even if it were desirable.

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