Mail Call.(Letter to the Editor)

Crypto Warriors vs. Big Brother

Our Jan. 15 story on Steven Levy's new book about cryptography elicited strong opinions. "The crypto breakthrough has fundamentally altered the relationship between government and governed," declared one reader. Another praised us for highlighting the subject: "I learned much about encryption from your excerpt." The rest urged caution: First, "logical and technical flaws must be answered," and then, "there are still many unanswered questions about security."

Is Your E-Mail Really Private?

Your Jan. 15 story "How They Beat Big Brother" (Science & Technology) was right on target. While there have been many articles on the threat of computer hackers and the loss of privacy in computer systems, few authors discuss solutions. Steven Levy addressed a specific solution-- the use of strong encryption to protect the integrity and confidentiality of electronic transactions. In an age when we increasingly rely on electronic storage and transmission of our private information, encryption is the key not only to the protection of our data but to the protection of our democracy.

Joseph T. Broghamer -- Arlington, Virginia

"How They Beat Big Brother" must have struck a chord with millions of Americans who value our most sacred constitutional rights, especially freedom of speech and of assembly. The National Security Agency's apparently well-meaning attempt to develop a means of eavesdropping on everyone's encrypted messages because the technology of privacy will be abused by a few bad apples was foolish. The rule in America is freedom, and when government creates an exception to that rule--like the Clipper Chip--that is so broad it affects everyone, then the exception inevitably swallows the rule and replaces it.

Sam Stewart -- Columbus, New Jersey