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> There’s been similar interest for FireChat in Iran. Users in the country have started 1,800 FireChat groups, according to Open Garden, making Iran the second
by higherpurpose 12y ago
> There’s been similar interest for FireChat in Iran. Users in the country have started 1,800 FireChat groups, according to Open Garden, making Iran the second biggest user of the app after the United States. India, Brazil and Mexico follow close behind, and Open Garden says people in Cairo and on the outskirts of Baghdad, Iraq are using the app too.
Oh god. What have they done? Please tell me they have encrypted the communication between users by now.
- cowbell 12y agoWouldn't it be illegal for an American company to export strong encryption to Iran? At least, that's the gist I get from the JCE unlimited strength policy file. If not illegal, it would definitely go against the agreement for distribution of that.
- schoen 12y agoHistorically, clearly so. But since 2010 there has been a "General License" for exporting "Personal Communication Services" technology (essentially based on the idea that individuals' communication weakens the government's hold on society, or, as OFAC put it, "are a vital tool for change"). http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/soc_net.pdf http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/D... I don't know how the General License applies to cryptographic technology in particular. Paging Collin Anderson...
- ixwt 12y agoI do know there are requirements that need to be met for exportation of cryptography [0]. Interesting fact related to this: Strong crypto used to be considered a weapon. This is why the DVD standard is 40 bits (iirc, it's possibly 64 bits). 0: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Export_of_cryptography_from_the_United_States http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Export_of_cryptography_from_the...