Re:Encrypted web traffic now exceeds 90%
by ethbro on Friday November 01, 2019 @05:48PM
(#21424056)
I think this is underappreciated.
High-quality crypto libraries / systems lead to broader implementation, which makes it harder for elements in mostly-free societies to pressure implementers.
It's one thing for the NSA to quietly lean on ATT (and only ATT). It's a completely different thing for them to quietly lean on 1,000 different organizations and authors.
Similarly, it's easy to sneak a CALEA-alike amendment into national law when only PGP exists. It's harder when the narrative becomes "The government wants to take {beloved product used by millions} away."
High-quality crypto libraries / systems lead to broader implementation, which makes it harder for elements in mostly-free societies to pressure implementers.
It's one thing for the NSA to quietly lean on ATT (and only ATT). It's a completely different thing for them to quietly lean on 1,000 different organizations and authors.
Similarly, it's easy to sneak a CALEA-alike amendment into national law when only PGP exists. It's harder when the narrative becomes "The government wants to take {beloved product used by millions} away."