Those suspicious of big government are raising objections to President Clinton's proposal to give federal agencies the keys for decoding all exported U.S. software and Internet communications.

Moreover, they warn that such a policy would also tamper with the competitive advantages that U.S. software companies now enjoy in the field of encryption technology.

• The Clinton policy is aimed at enabling the federal government to read international computer communications -- financial transactions, personal e-mail, and proprietary information sent abroad -- in the name of national security.

• Two weeks ago, the 56-bit algorithm government standard encryption code -- which contains 72 quadrillion different combinations and was considered unbreakable -- was broken.

• Meanwhile, 128-bit encryption software -- originally developed by Americans -- is available from European firms to every Web user.

• While European firms can export this super-secure encryption technology to the U.S., American companies are forbidden by law from exporting these same programs to other countries.

The Senate Commerce Committee has voted -- in accordance with administration policy -- to force American software companies to perpetuate the already compromised 56-bit encryption system.

Admittedly the Internet could be used for crimes. But privacy advocates point out that we do not provide the government with phone jacks outside our homes for unlimited wiretaps. The Fourth Amendment -- which protects Americans from unlawful searches -- clearly applies, according to critics of the administration's initiatives.

Legislation introduced in both the House and the Senate would give U.S. encryption software manufacturers the freedom to compete on equal footing in the worldwide marketplace. Both measures would not require the sharing of keys with the government.

Critics say the administration's track record on FBI files and Internal Revenue Service snooping clearly illustrates the dangers of further allowing the government to invade even further Americans' privacy rights.

Source: Sen. John Ashcroft (R-Missouri), "Encryption: Keep Feds' Nose Out of the Net," Investor's Business Daily, July 11, 1997.