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@ -9,109 +9,51 @@ THE CYPHERNOMICON: Cypherpunks FAQ and More, Version 0.666, 1994-09-10, Copyrig
- The Cypherpunks have existed since September, 1992. In that time, a vast amount has been written on cryptography, key escrow, Clipper, the Net, the Information Superhighway, cyber terrorists, and crypto anarchy. We have found ourselves (or _placed_ ourselves) at the center of the storm. - The Cypherpunks have existed since September, 1992. In that time, a vast amount has been written on cryptography, key escrow, Clipper, the Net, the Information Superhighway, cyber terrorists, and crypto anarchy. We have found ourselves (or _placed_ ourselves) at the center of the storm.
- This FAQ may help to fill in some gaps about what we're about, what motivates us, and where we're going. And maybe some useful knowledge on crypto, remailers, anonymity, digital cash, and other interesting things. - This FAQ may help to fill in some gaps about what we're about, what motivates us, and where we're going. And maybe some useful knowledge on crypto, remailers, anonymity, digital cash, and other interesting things.
- The Basic Issues
+ The Basic Issues - Great Divide: privacy vs. compliance with laws
+ Great Divide: privacy vs. compliance with laws - free speech and privacy, even if means some criminals cannot be caught (a stand the U.S. Constitution was strongly in favor of, at one time)
+ free speech and privacy, even if means some criminals - a man's home is his castle...the essence of the Magna Carta systems...rights of the individual to be secure from random searches
cannot be caught (a stand the U.S. Constitution was - or invasive tactics to catch criminals, regulate behavior, and control the population
strongly in favor of, at one time) - the legitimate needs to enforce laws, to respond to situations
- a man's home is his castle...the essence of the Magna - this parallels the issue of self-protection vs. protection by law and police
Carta systems...rights of the individual to be secure - as seen in the gun debate
from random searches - crypto = guns in the sense of being an individual's preemptive protection
+ or invasive tactics to catch criminals, regulate - past the point of no return
behavior, and control the population - Strong crypto as building material for a new age
- the legitimate needs to enforce laws, to respond to + Transnationalism and Increased Degrees of Freedom
situations - governments can't hope to control movements and communications of citizens; borders are transparent
+ this parallels the issue of self-protection vs. + Not all list members share all views
protection by law and police - This is not "the Official Cypherpunks FAQ." No such thing can exist. This is the FAQ I wanted written. Views expressed are my own, with as much input from others, as much consensus, as I can manage. If you want a radically
- as seen in the gun debate different FAQ, write it yourself. If you don't like this FAQ, don't read it. And tell your friends not to read it. But don't bog down my mailbox, or the 500 others on the list, with messages about how you would have worded Section 12.4.7.2 slightly differently, or how Section 6.9.12 does not fully reflect your views. For obvious reasons.
- crypto = guns in the sense of being an individual's - All FAQs are the products of a primary author, sometimes of a committee. For this FAQ, I am the sole author. At least of the version you are reading now. Future versions may have more input from others, though this makes me nervous (I favor new authors writing their own stuff, or using hypertext links, rather than taking my basic writing and attaching their name to it--it is true that I include the quotes of many folks here, but I do so by explicitly quoting them in the chunk they wrote....it will be tough for later authors to clearly mark what Tim May wrote without excessively cluttering the text. The revisionist's dilemma.
preemptive protection - The list has a lot of radical libertarians, some anarcho-capitalists, and even a few socialists
- past the point of no return - Mostly computer-related folks, as might be expected. (There are some political scientists, classical scholars, etc. Even a few current or ex-lawyers.)
- Strong crypto as building material for a new age + Do I Speak for Others?
+ Transnationalism and Increased Degrees of Freedom + - As I said, no. But sometimes I make claims about what "most" list members believe, what "many" believe, or what "some" believe.
- governments can't hope to control movements and - "Most" is my best judgment of what the majority believe, at least the vocal majority in Cypherpunks discussions (at the physical meetings, parties, etc.) and on the List. "Many" means fewer, and "some" fewer still. "A few" will mean a distinct minority. Note that this is from the last 18 months of activity (so don't send in clarifications now to try to "sway the vote").
communications of citizens; borders are transparent - In particular, some members may be quite uncomfortable being described as anarchists, crypto anarchists, money launderers, etc.
+ Not all list members share all views + My comments won't please everyone
- This is not "the Official Cypherpunks FAQ." No such thing - on nearly every point ever presented, some have disagreed
can exist. This is the FAQ I wanted written. Views - feuds, battles, flames, idee fixes
expressed are my own, with as much input from others, as - on issues ranging from gun control to Dolphin Encrypt to various pet theories held dearly
much consensus, as I can manage. If you want a radically - Someone once made a mundane joke about pseudonyms being like multiple personality disorder--and a flame came back saying: "That's not funny. I am MPD and my SO is MPD. Please stop immediately!"
different FAQ, write it yourself. If you don't like this - can't be helped....can't present all sides to all arguments
FAQ, don't read it. And tell your friends not to read it. + Focus of this FAQ is U.S.-centric, for various reasons
But don't bog down my mailbox, or the 500 others on the - most on list are in U.S., and I am in U.S.
list, with messages about how you would have worded Section - NSA and crypto community is largely centered in the U.S., with some strong European activities
12.4.7.2 slightly differently, or how Section 6.9.12 does - U.S. law is likely to influence overseas law
not fully reflect your views. For obvious reasons. + We are at a fork in the road, a Great Divide
- All FAQs are the products of a primary author, sometimes of - Surveillance vs. Freedom
a committee. For this FAQ, I am the sole author. At least - nothing in the middle...either strong crypto and privacy is strongly limited, or the things I describe here will be done by some people....hence the "tipping factor" applies (point of no return, horses out of the barn)
of the version you are reading now. Future versions may + I make no claim to speaking "for the group." If you're offended, write your own FAQ. My focus on things loosely called "crypto anarchy" is just that: my _focus_. This focus naturally percolates over into something like this FAQ, just as someone primarily interested in the mechanics of PGP would devote more space to PGP issues than I have.
have more input from others, though this makes me nervous - Gary Jeffers, for example, devotes most of his "CEB" to issues surrounding PGP.
(I favor new authors writing their own stuff, or using + Will leave out some of the highly detailed items...
hypertext links, rather than taking my basic writing and - Clipper, LEAF, escrow, Denning, etc.
attaching their name to it--it is true that I include the - a myriad of encryption programs, bulk ciphers, variants on PGP, etc. Some of these I've listed...others I've had to throw my hands over and just ignore. (Keeping track of zillions of versions for dozens of platforms...)
quotes of many folks here, but I do so by explicitly - easy to get lost in the details, buried in the bullshit
quoting them in the chunk they wrote....it will be tough
for later authors to clearly mark what Tim May wrote
without excessively cluttering the text. The revisionist's
dilemma.
- The list has a lot of radical libertarians, some anarcho-
capitalists, and even a few socialists
- Mostly computer-related folks, as might be expected. (There
are some political scientists, classical scholars, etc.
Even a few current or ex-lawyers.)
+ Do I Speak for Others?
- As I said, no. But sometimes I make claims about what
"most" list members believe, what "many" believe, or what
"some" believe.
- "Most" is my best judgment of what the majority believe,
at least the vocal majority in Cypherpunks discussions
(at the physical meetings, parties, etc.) and on the
List. "Many" means fewer, and "some" fewer still. "A few"
will mean a distinct minority. Note that this is from the
last 18 months of activity (so don't send in
clarifications now to try to "sway the vote").
- In particular, some members may be quite uncomfortable
being described as anarchists, crypto anarchists, money
launderers, etc.
+ My comments won't please everyone
- on nearly every point ever presented, some have disagreed
- feuds, battles, flames, idee fixes
- on issues ranging from gun control to Dolphin Encrypt to
various pet theories held dearly
- Someone once made a mundane joke about pseudonyms being
like multiple personality disorder--and a flame came back
saying: "That's not funny. I am MPD and my SO is MPD.
Please stop immediately!"
- can't be helped....can't present all sides to all arguments
+ Focus of this FAQ is U.S.-centric, for various reasons
- most on list are in U.S., and I am in U.S.
- NSA and crypto community is largely centered in the U.S.,
with some strong European activities
- U.S. law is likely to influence overseas law
+ We are at a fork in the road, a Great Divide
- Surveillance vs. Freedom
- nothing in the middle...either strong crypto and privacy is
strongly limited, or the things I describe here will be
done by some people....hence the "tipping factor" applies
(point of no return, horses out of the barn)
+ I make no claim to speaking "for the group." If you're
offended, write your own FAQ. My focus on things loosely
called "crypto anarchy" is just that: my _focus_. This focus
naturally percolates over into something like this FAQ, just
as someone primarily interested in the mechanics of PGP would
devote more space to PGP issues than I have.
- Gary Jeffers, for example, devotes most of his "CEB" to
issues surrounding PGP.
+ Will leave out some of the highly detailed items...
- Clipper, LEAF, escrow, Denning, etc.
- a myriad of encryption programs, bulk ciphers, variants on
PGP, etc. Some of these I've listed...others I've had to
throw my hands over and just ignore. (Keeping track of
zillions of versions for dozens of platforms...)
- easy to get lost in the details, buried in the bullshit
1.3. Motivations ##Motivations
1.3.1. With so much material available, why another FAQ? 1.3.1. With so much material available, why another FAQ?
1.3.2. No convenient access to archives of the list....and who could 1.3.2. No convenient access to archives of the list....and who could
read 50 MB of stuff anyway? read 50 MB of stuff anyway?