ARTICLE · 25 NOVEMBER 1997

Draft French Encryption Decrees

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By
Stewart Baker
([email protected])

Michael Hintze
([email protected])

October 1997

We have translated versions of the French Government's recently released draft decrees on encryption policy. The first decree contains the rules for the import (from countries that are not members of the EC), use, supply and export of encryption products, and the second decree contains the rules governing the trusted third parties who hold encryption keys (i.e. key escrow agents).

The decree that regulates the import, use, supply and export of encryption products differentiates between two types of products, and creates a different regulatory regime for each. The following is a brief analysis of the two decrees.

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