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Holland: Cryptology ban

01 January 1991

Holland: Cryptology ban
artdoc July=1994

Minister of Justice Mr Ernst Hirsch Ballin has proposed a bill
outlawing the uncontrolled use of cryptography. According to a
press statement about the still confidential bill private
individuals, including criminals, now have access to
cryptographic software and hardware of similar quality to
`potentially hostile foreign powers'. Therefore the minister
feels they have to be treated accordingly. Under the proposed
legislation cryptographic software and hardware, both for
communications and stand-alone security purposes, will become
subject to a licensing regime which prevents uncontrolled
distribution. Users will have to deposit the key to their
appliances with a central depository agency that may supply this
information to police and security services if needed. Privacy
protectors and representatives of computer industries and banks
have already protested against the proposal.
This Dutch proposal implies a much greater intrusion in civil
liberties than the `Clipper Chip' proposal currently under
discussion in the US. It can be foreseen that the government will
eventually `give in' to protests and settle for a US-type
solution of an mandatory, state-controlled cryptography system.

Statewatch, vol 4 no 3, May-June 1994