The Resonating Interval:
Exploring the Process of the Tetrad
By Anthony Hempell
Tetrads: Future
Data Encryption

Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), a freeware encryption software program, has brought strong encryption technology to the computer-using public. Originally the exclusive domain of the military, encryption has been used for the past 10-15 years by the financial industry to secure transfers of funds over networks. With the explosion of personal and business communication over computer networks, the issue of privacy and regulation has resurfaced. Since the very nature of the Internet (and most distributed networks) makes policing content and security difficult if not impossible, the situation is ripe for individuals to take the privacy issue into their own hands.

Here are some web resources on the subject for further reading:

Table 13: Tetrad of "Data Encryption"
(A) Enhancement
Enhances privacy and individual security
Retrieves reputation as currency
(C) Retrieval
[tetrad diagram]
(D) Reversal
Reverses into crypto-anarchy, dissolution of information control
Erodes surveillance, state power of search and seizure
(B) Obsolescence

Enhances privacy and individual security:
Public-key encryption concentrates the power and responsibility for privacy in the hands of the individual: thus, each individual has the choice and responsibility to protect themselves and their data from outside intrusion.
Back to diagram
Erodes surveillance, state power of search and seizure:
Governments have traditionally held the power (through the courts) to obtain search warrants to gather evidence. As more criminal activity takes place digitally, encrypted files will become worthless, as unbreakable military-grade encryption is already publicly accessible.
Back to diagram
Retrieves reputation as currency:
With many personal and business transactions taking place without face-to-face interaction, the digital signature of an individual will become his or her badge of honour. Signature vouching (where other users vouch for a person's reputation by verifying his or her public key) will be the norm; retrieval of the "reputation" of the Wild West cowboy; Robin Hood; "street credibility."
Back to diagram
Reverses into crypto-anarchy, dissolution of information control:
Regulation and censorship of information becomes impossible.
Back to diagram

Introduction | The Global Village | Tetrad:Concept | Tetrads:Past | Tetrads:Present | Bibliography
copyright ©1996 by Anthony Hempell.