- cypherpunks-legacy@lists.ogf.org

Solicitation of Tax Evasion--An Example
by tcmay＠netcom.com 16 Aug '93

16 Aug '93

What could anonymous systems be used for? Besides allowing anonymity in posting embarrassing or otherwise "questionable" messages, is there any _commercial_ use? These are questions I hear a lot. Yes, there are commercial uses. Here's a case that just came wafting across the Net: a woman who wants to evade taxes--she states this explicitly--by bartering her labor for some software. (I have no problem with this, being against taxes and all, and knowing that various kinds of untaxable barter exchanges are going on everywhere.) Here's her post (no names have been changed, as she posted publicly): Newsgroups: misc.forsale.computers.mac From: vanous(a)mdd.comm.mot.com (Brendan K. Vanous) Subject: BARTER: graphic design for s/w Message-ID: <1993Aug14.040010.141(a)mdd.comm.mot.com> Summary: would like to barter services for Mac software Date: Sat, 14 Aug 1993 04:00:10 GMT POSTING FROM MY HUSBAND'S ACCOUNT (mine's temporarily inaccessable): Hi. I'm a freelance forms/graphics designer who would like to expand her software library in an inexpensive (& non-taxable :-) manner. Therefore, I would like to propose the following: I will trade any of my design services (business forms, business cards, illustrations, manual formatting, brochures, newsletters, any sort of desktop publishing task that can be performed on a Mac ...) for an equivalent amount of Mac software (got an extra copy of PageMaker 4.1 lying around that you don't need?) All software must be original, with documentation and letter of transferral. NO PIRATED COPIES, PLEASE! If interested, please reply to cyphrkt(a)eskimo.com and I'll reply to you as soon as I possibly can (probably another 1 or 2 days before I get my account back up and running), or contact me at (206) 778-3362 by voice. Thanks! - Cindy Vanous ................. Chances are no IRS types are watching the Net for such solicitations--and the act of making such an offer is probably not itself illegal. The IRS would have to investigate, call an audit, prove taxes were evaded, etc. The existence of her solicitation might or might not be considered. But in an era in which every Usenet utterance is recorde in perpetuity and is available on CD-ROMs for browsing and compilation of databases and dossiers (you all *do* know this, don't you? Don't bother applying for certain jobs if you posted too many times, or even once, to "alt.sex.perversion.whatever"). Furthermore, anyone _reading_ this kind of post can, for example, call an anonymous (semi-anonymous?) tip line run by the IRS. Last I heard, tipsters can get 25% of any taxes collected as the result of their good citizenship. So, what can anonymity of the sort we discuss do here? After all, if she's anonymous, how can a tranaction ever be consummated? (I'll leave aside purely electronic transactions, which could in principle be done fully anonymously, using a combination of "pools" (the "digital democracy walls" I have cited before) and anonymous remailers.) If Cindy were to use an anonymous remailer to post her offer, and then offer a public key that could be used by anyone who wished to respond to her offer, a response could then be posted in the same group. Something like this: "Alice" (really Cindy): "Want to trade consulting for a used Macintosh. If you are interested, use this public key to respond: 3$1k8dRW4..." Bob (really Jack) sees this, decides to offer a deal, encrypts it with her public key (a one-time public key, used just for this deal), and used anonymous remailers to post it in place she is sure to see it (the same newsgroup, for example, or in one of Miron Cuperman's "pools," or in "alt.w.a.s.t.e," etc.). Bob also includes a public key she can use to communicate with him. If they like the general deal, they can then agree (using only their encrypted channel, readable only to themselves, even though they have never met and have no idea who the other is or where they live) on the next step. In a purely electronic transaction, this process can continue digitally and fully securely. If physical goods or money need to change hands, they can agree to meet, to use phones, etc. The risk to Cindy is still there--Bob (Jack) could of course be a government agent, etc.--but at least she is no longer broadcasting her intentions for all Usenet readers, present and future, to potentially see. And no future readers, such as government computer programs set to scan all postings for evidence of such illegalities, can retroactively detect and compromise her. (If no actual physical contact is needed--such as for software sales and consulting--then of course the contact can in principle remain fully anonymous. Even the transfer of physical goods can be done with moderately good security against tracing...smugglers, drug dealers, and hijackers do it all the time. "Fences," they are called. And so on.) This is just one example of how "the little people" can benefit from the schemes we are exploring. Understand that I have no illusions that our friend Cindy will soon be using such methods...but maybe in 5 years. -Tim May -- .......................................................................... Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, tcmay(a)netcom.com | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero 408-688-5409 | knowledge, reputations, information markets, W.A.S.T.E.: Aptos, CA | black markets, collapse of governments. Higher Power: 2^756839 | Public Key: PGP and MailSafe available. Note: I put time and money into writing this posting. I hope you enjoy it. -- .......................................................................... Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, tcmay(a)netcom.com | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero 408-688-5409 | knowledge, reputations, information markets, W.A.S.T.E.: Aptos, CA | black markets, collapse of governments. Higher Power: 2^756839 | Public Key: PGP and MailSafe available. Note: I put time and money into writing this posting. I hope you enjoy it.

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ADICO: Anarchist FDIC
by Kent Hastings 16 Aug '93

16 Aug '93

ADICO: Anarchist FDIC#000# When someone objects to free banking (in gold, for example) on the grounds that unregulated banks will have fractional reserves and have no incentive to stay honest, perhaps describing an Anarchist Deposit Insurance COmpany (ADICO) will ease their fears. A new or relatively obscure offshore bank would gain the trust of potential depositors by agreeing to cooperate with surprise inspections of their gold supply. Depositors would pay a small premium to cover loss from bank failures due to theft or fraud. Cryptographic protocols would need to be developed to allow the ADICO to see a verified total amount on deposit, without revealing anything about any particular depositor. The total should match the physical amount of gold in storage, assuming 100% reserves. Does anybody know of work on this, or think it is worth researching? Kent - <jkhastings(a)aol.com> #000#

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Inslaw files
by greg＠ideath.goldenbear.com 16 Aug '93

16 Aug '93

Eric Hughes says he's uninterested in making the Inslaw files available on soda, so I'll be happy to mail copies of them to interested parties. -- Greg Broiles greg(a)goldenbear.com Golden Bear Computer Consulting +1 503 342 7982 Box 12005 Eugene OR 97440 BBS: +1 503 687 7764

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Re: Electronic Democracy
by nobody＠pmantis.berkeley.edu 16 Aug '93

16 Aug '93

> From: wcs(a)anchor.ho.att.com (Bill_Stewart(HOY002)1305) > > An anonymous personage writes > > More succinctly, "Democracy is four wolves and a sheep voting on lunch." > > Up the republic! > > Yeah, though representative government is four wolves voting on _which_ sheep > to have for lunch. Actually, elections are more like four sheep voting on which wolf they want to be eaten by. .snail

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A Follow-up
by Cindy Vanous 16 Aug '93

16 Aug '93

To the lady or chap who arbitrates this mailing list: I am sending along a message which I would like to have forwarded to your mailing list. A colleague of mine found my name mentioned somewhat out of context in a letter posted to your list, and I would like a chance to address the issues mentioned therein. Let me start out by saying that I do fully support the perpetuation of encryption and anonymous posting; however, there are some circumstances in which it is neither appropriate nor desirable. My situation represents one of these circumstances. Let me explain: There are certain transactions which the IRS has allowed to be non-taxable. For example, in Washington state, as in several other states, non-luxury food items are tax-exempt. Another tax-exempt transaction is barter. Barter is one of the mainstays of struggling small-farm owners, a method of support between startup businesses, and an excellent way to obtain needed goods and services without the exchange of money, which might not always be available. In my case, I am a startup business owner with limited funds and a need for better software than I currently possess. Therefore, I post to the Internet that I am willing to trade my services for an equivalent value in software. Therefore, I get my copy of Word or PageMaker, and some other cash-low company receives a professional business form or other graphic design project. All perfectly legal, all tax-exempt, according to the IRS' own laws. This is not tax evasion, merely good business sense. This brings me to the following conclusion: even if anonymous posting was available to me (which it very well might be; I haven't pursued information about it), I would have no need or desire to use it. My clients are not interested in playing some sort of spy game, they are interested in making a business arrangement with me. They would very likely not be willing to trust me if I was merely a phantom name from a nonexistant site. Finally, I would like to point out that there is currently a movement on the Internet, pushing for the greater utilization and availability of barter. The IRS left a loophole in their rules, it is up to us to take advantage of it. For more information on barter through the Internet, subscribe to the Fringeware mailing list at the following address: fringeware-request(a)wixer.bga.com Thank you for your time and bandwidth, - Cindy L Vanous --------------- * cyphrkt(a)eskimo.com * --------------- Cindy Vanous, the Cypherkat, graphic artist at large ------------------------------------------------------ Disclaimer: even though I work for myself, my opinions STILL don't seem to be the opinions of my employer.

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Mail problems
by gtoal＠an-teallach.com 16 Aug '93

16 Aug '93

In article <9308121657.AA20346(a)toad.com> gnu(a)toad.com writes: > My proposal is that we get some software working that produces poor > quality speech in realtime on fast hardware that most people don't > have. Then, improved search algorithms will bring higher quality.* > The natural evolution of faster hardware will make it available to all. It exists. It's called 'nevot'. The improved faster compression algorithm is also on the way very shortly (the one by ajr that I mentioned the other day); with 4000byte/sec samples and 8:3 compression, it fits in 14.4kb with enough to spare for packet encapsulation. G === Personal mail to gtoal(a)gtoal.com (I read it in the evenings) Business mail to gtoal(a)an-teallach.com (Be careful with the spelling!) Faxes to An Teallach Limited: +44 31 662 4678 Voice: +44 31 668 1550 x212

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Remailer bug...
by wmo＠rebma.rebma.mn.org 16 Aug '93

16 Aug '93

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- I just noticed a potential problem with the current Cypherpunks remailers. If someone uses the -m option when they encrypt for the remailer, the pgp session will hang, waiting for input to the "For your eyes only. Display now? (Y/n)?" message. (Yeah, if you're wondering, someone did this to the remailer on Rebma.) - -Bill -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.3 iQCVAgUBLG8mLRiQVHeOVJ+HAQEqaQP/YFFiNpR9qsZ39sTNccAsxeYegeuTEh1+ 0Xf/B2XylQtyNnJ0PQnJ5FQdQa79DTNoI2pwbh4N1pVDYPAF5KkZiXf9m5MLhhbi UqXrFGiaGRTLI1JcssgvqvvodM+9EtrDf5eBw/M3k/iEnYEjKiIPkSx4DCLCuGId exjqwL6lgqM= =aHty -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Re: e-voting
by plmoses＠unix.cc.emory.edu 16 Aug '93

16 Aug '93

instead of promoting another "magic bullet" (ie electronic democracy), why dont we just take a stand against the tide of ignorance and violence that has engulfed us? new technology handed down from on high will serve only to amplify the underlying instabilities unless these are addressed first. or at least simultaneously. of course there are short term profit opportunities in innovation, fortunes to be made. but then again no one is safe from the growing instability. just ask Michael Jordan no matter how much money u have ur still in the same boat with everyone else

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Re: encrypting virus (KOH)
by Karl Barrus 16 Aug '93

16 Aug '93

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Since this doesn't have much to do with encryption or cypherpunks per se, I am hesitant to respond. Interested people may obtain the software from me. Perhaps I should have doctored the text included with the program I received and termed it an automatic encryption program, which encrypts your hard drive and floppies with your permission. We would possibly be spared some of the fears of viruses. 1) the program asks for permission before performing any action > I'd be rather perturbed (especially since I use a Mac :-), since the > question would probably be completely outside of the context of what I > was trying to do (eg. run a GIF viewer, checkbook balancer, compiler, > whatever), and would not provide sufficient notification of potential > ramifications from answering in either the negative or the affirmative. 2) perhaps the program should include the standard disclaimer that ALL SOFTWARE INCLUDING COMMERCIAL SOFTWARE includes, usually in the beginning of the documentation, or on a separate card. You know, the one that says essentially that the the authors are not omniscient, cannot predict all circumstances the software shall be used under, and thus disclaim any damages. This warning is included in all the commercial software I own. Actually, the disclaimers simply say that you use the software at your own risk, damages are disclaimed. I have yet to see software which attempts to explain all potential ramifications of its use. I very much doubt I would be using software at all if I were to wait for such packages to appear. > Now, if a smart compressor/encryptor wrote itself along with the files > it was treating, and then wrote a nice README file which explained that > files on the floppy were compressed/encrypted, would be automatically > decompressed/decrypted, and that the treatment could, if you wished, be > performed on your hard drives and/or other floppies by making a backup > and then executing the following command, that would be perfectly fine. 3) the program does not do this, much like Stacker does not create README files which explain that your disks are now compressed. This is left to the documentation that comes with the program, some appearing in a booklet, some as a text file (this practice occurs in every single commercial package I own) Now, I realize that since the author chose to call his program the "potassium hydroxide virus" that alarm bells sound. Maybe he should have posted the source to this list, describing it as a CryptoStacker program, which after installation encrypts floppy disks after prompting. Why, the whole thing would be so much better if MSDOS could run background processes - he could have written it to work like a unix daemon. As I said before, I posted this since I know some people are working on a similar program and may be interested in one which purports to do all this. Interested people may obtain the program, hex debug, and read.me file from me. I don't have the source code but maybe I can contact the author and ask for it. I don't have the tools or expertise in assembly to do the disassembly myself. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.3a iQCVAgUBLG8N8IOA7OpLWtYzAQFk5AP/TDib1SwkADkfk1D/WDwIk4gwpYLOIax/ sZ6WqrwDIl+Wpu9cO6sfIpxlO5iOqLVGhHeGxYfgaIKKr+IrS3x/t9HwWOV3vo7F 8zu5gPObI3J8yJ7C1xAgyKZ3kJ0ZfCX3fMYEK/zUt47W61qbfAp6QqGoo1jlE4D4 4HDp8uF3wzg= =BDLa -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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CPSR Oct. 16 Meeting Announcement
by L. Detweiler 16 Aug '93

16 Aug '93

Items of interest to (some) cpunks: - (ahem) COMPUTERS AND DEMOCRACY - Nat'l Info Infrastructure policy - Public access to Internet & major networks - local municipal and community network development - - - ************************************************************************ COMPUTER PROFESSIONALS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ANNUAL MEETING October 16 - 17, 1993 University of Washington, South Campus Center Seattle, Washington, USA Envisioning the Future: A National Forum on the National Information Infrastructure and Community Access Co-sponsored by the American Society for Information Science Pacific Northwest Chapter (ASIS-PNC) ************************************************************************ Saturday, October 16th 8:00 - 9:00 Registration/Coffee & Tea 9:00 - 9:15 Welcome to the CPSR Annual Meeting - Aki Namioka 9:15 - 10:15 Keynote Address - Bruce McConnell, Office of Management and Budget "Shaping National Information Infrastructure Policy" Bruce McConnell, Chief of Information Policy at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), will present his views on the major NII issues now facing the administration. He has been with OMB since 1985 and became head of Information Policy in 1992. He now chairs the inter-agency task force responsible for developing federal information policy for the Information Infrastructure Task Force. 10:15 - 10:45 Break 10:45 - 12:15 Panel Discussion - Moderated by Eric Roberts "Public Access to Internetworks" Public access to the Internet (and other major networks) is a critical issue in any discussion about an "electronic highway". Panelists representing a wide variety of perspectives, including representatives from the Pacific Northwest, will present their views. Panelists: Phil Bereano Craig Buthod, Deputy City Librarian and Chief Operating Officer, Seattle Public Library Kenneth Kay, Computer Science Policy Program Laura Breeden, FARnet 12:15 - 1:45 Lunch break 1:45 - 3:00 Panel Discussion - Moderated by Andrew Gordon "Municipal Information Infrastructure" City and other government agencies are exploring possibilities for developing municipal networks. In this panel a city official as well as a representative from the state regulatory agency and a representative of commercial interests will offer their insights and interests. Panelists: Joe Hommel - Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission Jane Noland - Seattle City Council 3:00 - 4:30 Panel Discussion - Moderated by Douglas Schuler "Networking in the Community" Community networks exist and are being developed all over the U.S. Panelists from various community networks will present their perspectives on the state of community networking now and in the future. Panelists: Tom Grundner, National Public Telecomputing Network Parker Lindner, New Media Matters Evelyn Pine, CPSR/Berkeley member and former Executive Director of the Community Memory Project Roy Sahali, CLAMDYP (Computing Literacy and Access Making a Difference for Youth Projects) 4:30 - 4:45 Break 4:45 - 6:15 Panel Discussion - Moderated by Marc Rotenberg "Computers and Democracy - What's the Connection?" What aspects of democracy might be improved with computers? Which ones probably wouldn't. This is a concept that is in the public eye, and an idea that will probably be tested soon. What can be done to promote wise uses of computers in this critical area? Panelists: Jeff Chester, Center for Media Education Jamie Love, Taxpayers Assets Project Leah Lievrouw, Department of Telecommunication and Film, University of Alabama 6:15 - 6:30 Closing Remarks - Jeff Johnson ************************************************************************ 7:00 - 7:30 No host bar at banquet site 7:30 CPSR Banquet - Fundraiser (Vegetarian food will be available) + Presentation of the 1993 Norbert Wiener Award to The Institute for Global Communications (IGC) Presenter: Eric Roberts The CPSR Board of Directors unamiously award the 1993 Wiener Award to IGC to recognize the work the organization has done to use network technology to empower previously disenfranchised individuals and groups working for progressive change. Geoff Sears, IGC's Executive Director, will be present to accept the award. + Banquet Address and Interactive Event - Kit Galloway, Electronic Cafe International Kit Galloway of Electronic Cafe International in Santa Monica, California will present his innovative approach to electronic communication using phone lines, slow-scan television, and other technology. Using videotapes and a live demonstration with CPSR chapters in Los Angeles and other locations, Kit will discus how the Electronic Cafe concept has been used in a variety of settings. Electronic Cafe International has staged global events with poets, children, and communities in France, Nicaragua, Japan, as well as a variety of American cities. Be sure to attend the banquet and participate in this provocative encounter with multimedia community networks !! ************************************************************************ Sunday, October 17th (preliminary schedule) 8:30 - 9:30 Coffee & Tea 9:30 - 11:30 Workshop sessions I 11:30 - 1:00 Lunch break 1:00 - 3:00 Workshop sessions II 3:00 - 3:30 Break 3:30 - 5:00 CPSR NII vision document discussion - Moderated by Todd Newman 5:00 - 5:30 Closing Remarks - CPSR NII program future - Marc Rotenberg ************************************************************************ ABOUT CPSR Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility stands alone as the only national, non-partisan, public-interest organization dedicated to understanding and directing the impact of computers on society. Decisions regarding the use of this technology have far-reaching consequences that necessarily reflect the basic values and priorities of the people who govern their use. Founded in 1981, CPSR has 2000 members from all over the world and 22 chapters across the country. Each of our members is an important participant in the dialogue that is helping to shape the future use of computers in the United States. Our National Advisory Board includes one Nobel laureate and three winners of the Turing Award, the highest honor in computer science. We believe that as the influence of computers continues to permeate every aspect of our society, it is important that professionals become active participants in formulating the policy that governs computer use and access. CPSR welcomes any and all who share our convictions. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Registration Form Please pre-register by September 24 to guarantee seating. Registrations at the door will be accepted pending space. Name _________________________________________________________________ Address ______________________________________________________________ City _______________________________ State _____________ Zip _________ Telephone __________________________ E-mail_____________________________ CPSR member $55 _______ Non member $75 _______ 1 year CPSR membership & registration $100 _______ Low income/student $25 _______ Banquet ticket $40 X ___ = _______ Additional donation to further CPSR's work _______ Total enclosed _______ For more information contact CPSR, 415-322-3778, draper(a)csli.stanford.edu, or Aki Namioka, 206-865-3249, aki(a)cpsr.org. Send completed registration form with check to: CPSR, P.O. Box 717, Palo Alto, CA 94301 - -- David Friedlander df(a)iochom.com voice 212-942-1156 fax 212-569-8680 ------- End of Forwarded Message

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