Don Henson

3 entries

Event December 30, 1996 Added October 3, 2026 Updated October 3, 2026 Article

When code was a munition — PGP, a floppy disk and a hash function against U.S. export rules (1991–2000)

Bitcoin Institute ↔ Phil Zimmermann, Phil Karn, Daniel J. Bernstein, Adam Back, Don Henson

Until December 30, 1996, U.S. rules listed encryption software with weapons. Zimmermann was investigated, Karn sued over a floppy disk, Bernstein won in court, and Back put RSA on a T-shirt.

Event August 7, 1995 Added October 3, 2026 Updated October 3, 2026 Mailing List

Over 350 'Munitions T-shirts' Shipped

Don Henson

Don Henson reports over 350 RSA/Perl munitions T-shirts shipped by July 27, 1995: under ITAR, wearing one where a non-U.S./Canadian citizen can see it counts as exporting cryptography.

Event August 25, 1995 Added October 3, 2026 Updated October 3, 2026 Mailing List

Over 500 'Munitions T-shirts' Shipped!

Don Henson

Henson tells the Cypherpunks list over 500 munitions T-shirts have shipped, 25% of U.S. profits go to Phil Zimmermann's legal defense fund, and buyers arrested for wearing one get a refund.