Denning says she is on the Clipper review panel which has just started. Also, noises about international Clipper cooperation from NIST. Finally the cypherpunk poster's earlier comment about the absurdity of French collaboration left to the imagination is brought to life... From: philip@charon.cto.citicorp.com (Philip Gladstone) Newsgroups: sci.crypt,alt.privacy.clipper Date: 23 Jun 1993 17:53:19 -0400
According to Lynn McNulty (of NIST) ...
Also, the civilian review of the Skipjack algorithm has started (on Monday). 2 people are from academia, and 3 from private industry. One of the DOE national labs is represented (but I don't know whether this counts as academia or private industry). Dorothy Denning is one member (according to her). McNulty wouldn't reveal any names.
Also, McNulty beleives that escrowed keys would be made available to foreign law enforcement organizations if requested. The following scenario springs to mind:
French LE to FBI: We have one suspect from the WTC bombing under surveillance in Paris. He uses a clipperphone to communicate. Can we have the keys to chip ID 145632? FBI to French LE: Are you working with the French Secret Service who is trying to tap the phones of corporate America? French LE to FBI: NON! FBI to French LE: Do you promise that the chip ID 145632 really is in Paris and is not in the phone of <fill in favourite US business leader>? French LE to FBI: OUI! FBI to French LE: OK - the key is 0b5e7f186ac85e5fb934.
I'm not trying to pick on the french, but one of the purposes of the Clipper (sorry Key Escrow) Chip is to protect against foreign commercial espionage.