A private-sector coalition opposed to strict U.S. export controls on data- scrambling technology plans an advertising campaign to press for change, according to a Reuters report.
The campaign, which will feature commercials on cable networks and
advertisements in print and on the Internet, comes as Republican congressional
leaders have shown an increasing desire to relax export controls through
legislation. Spending details were not available.
The controls sharply limit the ability of U.S. companies to sell products to
foreign customers that include encryption.
The coalition, Americans for Computer Privacy, plans to kick off the ad
campaign Wednesday at a Capitol Hill news conference, Reuters said.
A spokeswoman for the group said the ad campaign did not signal the end of
negotiations with the administration. “It doesn’t represent that,” said spokeswoman
Sue Richards. “We will always continue to pursue all
avenues.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to decide soon
whether to uphold a lower court ruling that struck down the export rules
as unconstitutional.
Americans for Computer Privacy includes companies such as Microsoft, Intel and Sun Microsystems Inc. along with organizations like the National Association of Manufacturers and various telephone companies.
