Rep. Rush Holt, D-N.J., is ramping up his...
Rep. Rush Holt, D-N.J., is ramping up his push for a bill that would prohibit the National Security Agency from installing “back doors” into encryption online, following recent revelations about the scope of the agency’s counterencryption efforts, a Holt aide…
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familiar with the legislation, told us Monday. The move follows revelations last week that the NSA has worked to counter a variety of encryption techniques, even introducing vulnerabilities into certain platforms and standards to further its eavesdropping (CD Sept 9 p8). Holt first introduced in July the Surveillance State Repeal Act (HR-2818), which would repeal surveillance laws, including the Patriot Act and FISA Amendments Act, that he said at the time the government “abused by collecting personal information on millions of Americans in violation of the Constitution” (http://1.usa.gov/15esPN5). The bill would reinstate a uniform probable cause-based warrant standard for surveillance requests. Even before last week’s revelations, the bill included provisions prohibiting the government from including “back doors” in either software or hardware, the aide said, saying the Electronic Frontier Foundation alerted Holt’s office to the issue. The aide said Holt’s office would circulate a Dear Colleague letter later this week encouraging members opposed to the Patriot Act and FISA Amendments Act to sign on to sponsor the bill (http://1.usa.gov/1eaciPQ). The aide also said the office would not revisit the bill’s language following the most recent revelations, but would be sensitive to the ongoing discussion on the Hill.