Cryptography will ineluctably spread over the whole globe, and with it the anonymous transactions systems that it makes possible. For privacy to be widespread it must be part of a social contract. People must come and together deploy these systems for the common good. Privacy only extends so far as the cooperation of one’s fellows in society.
Predictor: Hughes, Eric
Prediction, in context:In his classic essay “A Cypherpunk’s Manifesto,” which was spoken or published in various forms (this one from March 9, 1993) Eric Hughes writes: ”Cypherpunks deplore regulations on cryptography, for encryption is fundamentally a private act. The act of encryption, in fact, removes information from the public realm. Even laws against cryptography reach only so far as a nation’s border and the arm of its violence. Cryptography will ineluctably spread over the whole globe, and with it the anonymous transactions systems that it makes possible. For privacy to be widespread it must be part of a social contract. People must come and together deploy these systems for the common good. Privacy only extends so far as the cooperation of one’s fellows in society.”
Biography:Eric Hughes co-founded the Cypherpunks with John Gilmore and Tim May. This group included cryptographers, privacy advocates and digital anarchists. They were known for a densely written e-mail list generating megabytes of issue-oriented scientific discussion weekly. He was the author of the Cypherpunk Manifesto. (Research Scientist/Illuminator.)
Date of prediction: March 9, 1993
Topic of prediction: Communication
Subtopic: Security/Encryption
Name of publication: Electronic Frontier Foundation
Title, headline, chapter name: A Cypherpunks Manifesto
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://www.eff.org/Privacy/Crypto/Crypto_misc/cypherpunk.manifesto
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Johnson, Kathleen