U.S. Officials, High-Tech Leaders Meet on Encryption

FBI Director Louis Freeh and other top U.S. law enforcers met high-tech industry executives, including Microsoft Corp. boss Bill Gates, Tuesday to discuss regulation of computer data-scrambling products.

The meeting in Washington came amid negotiations between the industry and the Clinton administration over encryption policy and as Congress considers bills to relax strict export rules on the technology.

In addition to Gates, Netscape Communications Corp. Chief Executive Jim Barksdale, MCI Communications Corp. President Timothy Price, America Online Inc. President Steve Case and Sun Microsystems Inc. Chief Executive Scott McNealy attended the meeting organized by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).

Atty. Gen. Janet Reno also attended, along with Republican Sen. John Kyl (R.-Ariz.). Kyl and Feinstein have sided with the FBI and against industry in supporting new domestic restrictions.

The meeting will be followed today by a meeting organized by lawmakers who oppose domestic encryption controls.

The FBI and industry have been at odds for several years over proper regulation of encryption programs. Industry officials argue that encryption has become an increasingly critical component of global commerce and communications over the Internet.

But law enforcement agencies fear that the products will be used by criminals and terrorists to thwart surveillance efforts.