Washingtonpost.com staff
Updated April 24, 1998

The Clinton administration has consistently supported government control of U.S. encryption technology exports as a way to protect national security and foreign policy interests. Although administration policymakers have relaxed export controls on some kinds of encryption technology in recent years, restrictions still remain on the strongest products.

President Clinton took up the encryption issue with a 1993 announcement in support of the controversial Clipper chip. Inclusion of the Clipper chip in encryption products would have allowed people to scramble their communications in a way that the U.S. government, with access to a special "key," would always be able to decode. The proposal, however, was stymied by vehement opposition from several fronts.

Vice President Al Gore now is working with the Justice Department and the high-tech sector to re-examine encryption policy for the administration. His efforts include working with industry leaders to devise a technical solution to various law enforcement and security concerns raised by FBI Director Louis Freeh and intelligence officials.

Send President Clinton e-mail at president@whitehouse.gov. Send Vice President Al Gore e-mail at vice.president@whitehouse.gov.