Crypto Wars Apr 2026

: The Clinton administration proposed the Clipper Chip , a microchip for phones that would use a "key escrow" system to give the government a "backdoor" to communications.

: Until 1996, the U.S. classified encryption software as a "munition," placing strict limits on exporting strong code (typically anything above 40-bit keys). Crypto Wars

: The Clipper Chip failed due to public outcry and a critical security vulnerability discovered by researcher Matt Blaze in 1994. By 1999, the U.S. removed most retail export restrictions. 2. Phase 2: The Device & Messaging Era (2010s–2020s) : The Clinton administration proposed the Clipper Chip