Re: Transparent Society

mark@unicorn.com
Mon, 10 Nov 1997 08:20:01 -0800 (PST)


phoenix@ugcs.caltech.edu wrote:
>Brin doesn't advocate banning encryption. He does suggest an encryption
>tax, a la suggested bit taxes.

And he will detect encryption by...? What's the difference between an
encrypted message and a stream of random bytes? Will I now be taxed
for sending random numbers to my friends?

Bit taxes are ludicrous. Encryption taxes are doubly ludicrous.

>He also suggests setting up a standard
>mechanism for pseudonymity whereby the identity would be revealed after
>20 years, or something.

And he will prevent people from running remailers by...? The problem
with all these great new society ideas he has is that they must be
enforced by a large number of men with guns. Creating his wonderful
transparent society will require a hideously oppressive intermediate
state.

Mark