Then just focus on basic computer technology. Restricting the export of semiconductors in the early 60s could have created a significant advantage for the US, b

Then just focus on basic computer technology. Restricting the export of semiconductors in the early 60s could have created a significant advantage for the US, but would be absurd to support a decision like that. Military benefit alone is not enough to justify an export restriction, one has to consider the cost on society as a whole. The cost of restricting the export of cryptography is too large to justify.