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Last revision - 2/22/94
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              METHODS TO OPPOSE THE CLIPPER CHIP PROPOSAL

                   David Smith, EFF-Austin President
                            (bladex@bga.com)


I know that many members of EFF-Austin oppose the Clipper Chip proposal,
and would like to take effective action against this measure.  This file
compiles the various tactics and methods suggested by individuals and
organizations who oppose the Clipper Chip proposal, most notably the
Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and Computer Professionals for
Social Responsibility (CPSR).

This file presupposes that you have already studied the issue, and have
rejected the government arguments.

For those who may not know much about the controversy surrounding the
Clipper Chip, the first items points to resources already available.

Finally, I have slanted this information towards EFF-Austin members, but
have faith that those who live outside of the Austin community can
easily adapt this material.

INDEX
Be informed.
Tell all your friends
Tell computer groups in your community
Local media campaign
Support H.R. 3627.
Encourage Patrick Leahy to hold Congressional hearings.
Join the CPSR anti-Clipper petition.
Sticker : Big Brother Inside
Rush Limbaugh


BE INFORMED.

Substantial events in the Clipper Chip issue occur on a weekly basis,
making it both difficult and important to stay informed about the
Clipper Chip issues.

Here are electronic sources of information to watch :
       
Newsgroups :    austin.eff
                comp.org.eff.talk
                comp.org.eff.news
                alt.privacy.clipper
                alt.politics.talk.crypto

                Since austin.eff is moderated, it has the highest
                concentration of information, but little to no
                discussion.

Publications :  CPSR Alerts
                Computer Underground Digest
                EFFector Online

FTP/gopher sites:       cpsr.org
                        eff.org
                        wired.com

Text(s) that can be found on these three sites :

        "Jackboots on the Autobahn", by John Perry Barlow
        White House Statements and Announcements
        article by Brock Meeks

Non-electronic text :

        William Safire editorial, dated ????
        Associated Press has published at least one article, dated ???


TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS.

Forward this file and similar information to your cyber-buddies. Tell
them why this issue is important to you, how it affects their lives, and
why they should be concerned. *Especially* tell your friends who may not
know much about computer technology or the online world, and encourage
them to participate through non-online tactics.



SPEAK TO COMPUTER GROUPS IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.

At the Government and Technology convention this week, I spoke on a
panel discussion concerning multimedia and distributed video on the
information highway.  Someone raised a question concerning the status of
the Clipper Chip proposal.  Before answering, I asked how many people
knew about the proposal.  No one raised their hand.  But even a brief
introduction to the issue sparked a huge amount of interest and concern.

EFF-Austin is discussing creating a talk / presentation that discusses
the background of this issue, the technical, social, and legal
implications of implementing the Clipper Chip, and options for those who
oppose the policy decision.

This presentation could be taken on the road to the various computer
user groups meeting in Austin, to reach people who might not normally
find out about this.


LOCAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN

I am writing an article for Tech Connect, a local quarterly magazine
focusing on computer and technology issues.

I'll also be calling the Austin American Statesman, and suggest that
Bruce Hight or Kirk Ladendorf write a column for the Tech Monday
business section.  In the Statesman's own words, one can call 445-3500
and ask to speak to a business editor about a possible story. The
Statesman recommends calling between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m. to avoid
deadlines.

SUPPORT HR 3627

This bill aims to loosen controls on cryptography exports, encouraging
the creation of alternative cryptography methods.  The Electronic
Frontier Foundation has created an email account for the bill's sponsor,
Maria Cantwell.  Send e-mail to cantwell@eff.org with the subject linke
"I Support HR 3627".  Email will be printed and sent to Rep.Cantwell's
office.

ENCOURAGE PATRICK LEAHY TO CONDUCT CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS

Senator Patrick Leahy has made some noises about calling for public
hearings into the Clipper Chip proposal.  Lack of public input and lack
of public accountability has been why this proposal has been so
successful.  Similar to the Cantwell account, EFF has created an address
for Senator Leahy.  Send e-mail to leahy@eff.org encouraging him to take
Congressional action.

JOIN THE CPSR ANTI-CLIPPER LETTER

To have your name attached to a petition that calls for the withdrawal
of the Clipper Chip proposal, send e-mail to clipper-proposal@cpsr.org
with the simple message "I oppose clipper" in the body of the text.  A
return receipt message will be sent. According to Dave Banisar, this
petition now has over 30,000 signatures, with new ones being added at
the rate of 3,000 a day.

"BIG BROTHER INSIDE"

CPSR has postscript files and gifs of a parody of the Intel Inside
slogan that states, "Big Brother Inside".  Pop them into your screen
savers or background windows.  Bruce Sterling wants us to make adhesive
stickers out of them and plaster them everywhere.  We'll see at the next
Board of Directors meeting.

RUSH LIMBAUGH

Encourage Rush Limbaugh to speak out against Clipper on his radio and
television shows.  His address is 70277.2502@compuserve.com.  His
producer, Bo Snerdley, also has an address : 73467.2216@compuserve.com.
According to an article I recently read, he scans the subject lines of
his messages and reads the ones he thinks might be interesting.

If opposition to Clipper stems only from groups with the words
"computer" and "civil liberties" in their mission statements, then we
stand no chance.

ANY SUGGESTIONS?

If you have any suggestions, ideas, or information that needs to be
included in this file, please send it to bladex@bga.com, or call the
voice mail box at 512-465-7871. Updates to this file should be needed
every seven to ten days.


-- 
thanks,                 "If you continue to think like you've thought,
                        then you will always get what you've always got"
David Smith
President, EFF-Austin            Send email to bladex@bga.com