Commentary: The following letter was written in German by Dr. Ansgar Heuser of the Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik (BSI), the German government agency which advises the government on computer security matters. The letter clearly indicates that there are presently no provisions of German law requiring permits for the use of encryption, and may thus be regarded as an authoritative statement of the present German legal situation on this point.
Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik
Postfach 20 03 63
53133 Bonn
Date: May 30, 1995
Extension: (0228) 9582-600
BBN-BKZ: 74-600
Reference number: III-145-00-01
Dear Mr. Möller:
I would like to answer your e-mail question of May 22, 1995 as follows:
There are presently no legal regulations in the Federal Republic of Germany which make the use of encryption techniques subject to any type of permit; in particular prohibition on the use of processes which are "not certified by the BSI".
As a certain part of the public seem to have incorrect view of this point, I would like to ask you to publicise this clarification.
The BSI is not entitled to make a public judgement on the political and factual implementation and regulation of the cryptography market; I thus ask you to excuse my not being able to give information on this point.
Sincerely yours,
pp
Dr. Heuser