Crypto Wars
The controversy unofficially dubbed the "Crypto Wars" involves attempts by the United States (US) and allied governments to limit access to cryptography strong enough to thwart decryption by national intelligence agencies, especially the National Security Agency (NSA), and the response to protect digital rights by privacy advocates and civil libertarians. == Export of cryptography from the United States == === Cold War era === In the early days of the Cold War, the US and its allies developed an elaborate series of export control regulations designed to prevent a wide range of Western technology from falling into the hands of others, particularly the Eastern bloc.