Imp’s Reviews > Crypto Anarchy, Cyberstates, and Pirate Utopias > Status Update

Virtual Magistrate Project - rapid initial resolution of computer network disputes

Utopia Redux - most web things just mimic existing institutions
Californian Ideology

Hakim Bey's Temporary Autonomous Zones - need to be in person/"chest to chest", web's mediation doesn't allow this

help manners

Case of Jake Baker, fed manipulation Godwin 1995a
Mark Poster

History of LambdaMOO laws
1994 antirape ballot
SamIAm
Sunny - MOO civil rights
1994 "Save Our Sunny"
Tchinek - dispute arbitration

Due process and cyberjurisdiction

Is due process necessary?
What due process is provided in cyberspace
How will due process arise
Differences with nonvirtual world

The Emergence of Law in LambdaMOO

Began in October 1990
Roberto Unger's Politics - antinaturalism -> LambdaMOO is made purely of language.
1993 - petition system, wizards merely implementers
Dispute resolution in LambdaMOO
lucifuge2 - Free Speech
Mr. Bungle - MOOrape
lucifuge - harrassment
Formalizers vs Resisters - move toward entrenchment
Judicial Review Board
LM as Social Club, Village, Country, RPG

Prop13 Meets the Internet

1990s turning more responsibility over to the states, 1980s federal cut funding to states
Online shopping can't be taxed -> less local revenue from sales taxes, big revenue source
Online information access contributes to e-commerce

The Quill Decision
Sales taxes disproportionately affect the poor
Cities forced to lower taxes to encourage relocation.

Calls for global revenue approaches.

Anarchy State and the Internet - Networks as organizations
Networks have no existence outside of their rules
Rule-breaking behavior as occurring "off the network"

This boundary more explicit in networks, but not much relevance to actual behavior.
Competition for rule making precedence.
State holds coercive sanctions BUT Internet provides an exit strategy, thus limited.
Choice between rulesets for individuals.

Laws and Borders: The Rise of Law in Cyberspace

Explains IRL grounds for sovereignty: Power, Effects, Legitimacy, Notice (borders)
The essay explains how each of these pose a problem in cyberspace and how treating cyberspace as a separate "place" for the purposes of the law makes sense in this framework.
The cyberspace boundary is real, can be treated as border.
Cyberspace law will be fundamentally different.

Hiding Crimes in Cyberspace

Making real time communications inaccessible
Encrypting stored files
Using public postings to communicate

Law enforcement options:
Getting the key
Third party
Breaking the codes
Accessing plaintext through access point
Sting operation

Re: Denning's Crypto Anarchy

Thoughts are also "immune from lawful interception".
Contract killings will be easier, government killings will be harder.
What if escrow agent is outside a jurisdiction?
Bureaucratic promises are not good protection.
Public key encryption developed in spite of NSA ban.
Internet runs on programs without slick packaging.
Global cooperation on this is impossible due to competing interests.

Key escrow may be too costly - possible regulation: Licensed "clear" encryption products would be reputable and incompatible with unlicensed "underground" products which would be illegal.

Crypto-anarchy is a threat, requires international approach so LEA-s can fight terrorism
Key escrow can do this without suppressing communications.

Afterword - Clinton admin liberalized exports in 1998, article was overly alarmis.

The Future of Cryptography
Crypto anarchy leads to chaos

Crypto anarchy is not inevitable - cryptography is essential but not a solution to everything, protection can be illusory.
All communications are immune from lawful interception, can be used for crimes.
Key escrow as an alternative, Clinton admin initiative, Clipper Chip, Capstone. Exportable. Legislation for escrow agents.
Weak encryption, link encryption.