Bankers, farmers, computer chipmakers, manufacturers, state govern-ments, software companies, Baby Bell regional telecommunications giants, and dozens of trade associations are preparing to launch a major legislative drive on encryption software. Their aim: to break the deadlock on Capitol Hill surrounding both the future use of the technology within the United States and its export overseas. After being handed setbacks in the House and Senate in 1997, software publishers that sell encryption technology and business groups interested in conducting commerce over the Internet free from the prying eyes of computer hackers are regrouping to wage a new battle. Their goal is to remove all restrictions on the use of encryption technology, and they argue that in today's world it is essential to preserve rights to privacy in electronic communications and in commerce.
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