
The Clipper Chip: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
(courtesy of Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility)

What is the Clipper Chip?

        It is a cryptographic device purportedly intended to protect
private communications while at the same time permitting government
agents to obtain the "keys" upon presentation of what has been vaguely
characterized as "legal authorization."  The "keys" would be held by two
government "escrow agents" and would enable the government to access the
encrypted private communication.  While Clipper would be used to encrypt
voice transmissions, a similar device known as Capstone would be used to
encrypt data.

Who developed the underlying technology?

        The cryptographic algorithm, known as Skipjack, was developed by
the National Security Agency (NSA), a super-secret military intelligence
agency responsible for intercepting foreign government communications
and breaking the codes that protect such transmissions.  In 1987,
Congress passed the Computer Security Act, a law intended to limit NSA's
role in developing standards for the civilian communications system.  In
spite of that legislation, the agency has played a leading role in the
Clipper initiative and other civilian security proposals.  NSA has
classified the Skipjack algorithm on national security grounds, thus
precluding independent evaluation of the system's strength.  CPSR has
filed suit under the Freedom of Information Act seeking the disclosure
of the secret algorithm and other information concerning the Clipper
plan.

What is the government's rationale for Clipper?

        The key-escrow system was developed at the urging of the FBI and
other law enforcement agencies, which claim that the increasing
availability of strong encryption programs will interfere with their
ability to conduct wiretapping.  No evidence in support of these claims
has been released -- in fact, FBI documents obtained through litigation
by CPSR indicate that no such difficulties have been reported by FBI
field offices or other federal law enforcement agencies.

How important is wiretapping to law enforcement agencies?

        Electronic surveillance is just one of many investigative
techniques available to law enforcement.  In fact, it is not a widely
used technique -- in 1992, fewer than 900 wiretap warrants were issued
to state and federal law enforcement agencies.  It is to protect the
viability of that small number of wiretaps from an unsubstantiated risk
that the FBI and NSA have proposed to compromise the security of
billions of electronic transactions.

What is the current status of the Clipper plan?

        On February 4, the Administration announced the formal adoption of
the "Escrowed Encryption Standard," which is the technical specification
for the Clipper system.  This action means that Clipper will become the
encryption standard within the government -- all cryptographic products
for government use must comply with the standard (i.e., contain the key-
escrow mechanism) and all individuals and businesses wishing to transmit
secure communications to government agencies will eventually be obliged
to use the NSA-developed technology.

Will the Clipper standard become mandatory?

        The Administration maintains that Clipper will be a "voluntary"
standard outside of the government, but many industry observers question
the reality of this claim.  The government exerts enormous pressure in
the marketplace, and it is unlikely that alternative means of encryption
will remain viable.  Further, the possibility of Clipper becoming
mandatory at some time in the future is quite real given the underlying
rationale for the system.  If criminals do, indeed, intend to use
encryption to evade electronic surveillance, they are unlikely to
voluntarily use the Clipper technology.

     +=+-+=+-+=+-+=+-+=+-+=+-+=+-+=+-+=+-+=+-+=+-+=+-+=+-+=+-+=+-+
