Janet Reno, Attorney General
US Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
Dear Attorney General Reno,
As you know, High Tech America has been in large part responsible for the current growth and success of our economy. Congress has a vested interest in ensuring that this sector of our economy remains strong. That's why we passed the Internet Tax Freedom Law. That's why my colleagues and I drafted the e-Contract with High Tech America, an agenda designed to keep government from being a hindrance to high tech progress.
Unfortunately, recent news reports suggest a disturbing picture of Administration activities that could threaten these efforts. I would appreciate it if you would clarify the intentions of the Justice Department and the Administration to resolve any such misunderstandings.
First, there are reports suggesting that you oppose the exchange of encryption technology on the Internet, and that you have taken steps to prevent such exchange. As a forceful proponent of this technology, I am concerned that individuals could be deprived of the peace of mind that comes from knowing their transactions and personal communications will be kept secure from prying eyes.
Are these reports true? If so, does the Department of Justice plan to enforce this position? If so, how?
Second, drafts are circulating of a new Administration proposal that would establish the Federal Intrusion Detection Network which would, among other things, monitor civilian network traffic. This new bureaucracy would look for suspicious activity on both government and private computer networks, and the information collected would be gathered at the FBI's National Infrastructure Protection Center, under your jurisdiction.
News reports about this system have understandably caused a great deal of concern. If the American people lost confidence in the security of their most personal communications, it could jeopardize the success of online commerce and other new areas of technological growth. Beyond that, it's simply frightening to think about the possibility of government bureaucrats snooping in our e-mail, particularly in light of the Administration's stance on encryption legislation.
You are aware of Congressional oversight efforts that suggest such concerns are well founded. The GAO discovered in March that the IRS had used bicycle couriers to deliver sensitive tax returns. Unscrupulous IRS employees have been caught reviewing tax return files for their own personal purposes. White House employee Craig Livingstone had somehow obtained hundreds of confidential FBI files. Are you asking us to trust some future Craig Livingstone to keep our e-mails private?
For good reason, then, the thought of a federal bureaucracy monitoring private computer network systems raises concerns about personal privacy. I would appreciate if you could address the following concerns:
Congress has a duty to the American people to make sure that there is no plan which would undermine the confidence of the American people and the future success of our economy. I appreciate your efforts in helping us understand the extent of Administration plans in these areas.
Sincerely,
Dick Armey
House Majority Leader
Cc: Sandy Berger
