TIL: Until the late 90s, it was illegal to export encryption software that used keys over 40 bits in size from the USA. This lead to a criminal investigations of the creator of PGP and others.
TIL: Until the late 90s, it was illegal to export encryption software that used keys over 40 bits in size from the USA. This lead to a criminal investigations of the creator of PGP and others.
en.wikipedia.org
Export of cryptography from the United States - Wikipedia
The software was classed as munitions and one needed an arms dealer's license to publish it, including online. The creator of PGP published the full source code as a book, as these are covered under first amendment rights.