NYT: eBay in talks to acquire Skype

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Lauren Weinstein <lauren () vortex com>
Date: September 8, 2005 11:31:58 AM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Cc: lauren () vortex com
Subject: NYT: eBay in talks to acquire Skype



Dave,

The New York Times is reporting that eBay is in early discussions
that may lead to its acquiring of Skype.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/08/technology/08cnd-ebay.html

While such a move -- if consummated -- would not directly impact the
technical questions regarding Skype's security, it would obviously
lead to a new round of concerns if this technology were to be under
the control of a behemoth like eBay.

My view is that proprietary VoIP encryption mechanisms should not be
tolerated by the markeplace or by users.  Outside of the purely
technical risks associated with such systems not being publicly
vetted, the risk of such systems being subverted -- with or without
the cooperation of the firms involved, is simply too high in the
current political environment.

Encryption should never be accepted on faith or trust alone.

--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein
lauren () pfir org or lauren () vortex com or lauren () eepi org
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800
http://www.pfir.org/lauren
Co-Founder, PFIR
  - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
Co-Founder, EEPI
  - Electronic Entertainment Policy Initiative - http://www.eepi.org
Moderator, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
DayThink: http://daythink.vortex.com
  -- Latest: 9/7/05: "Lies, Damned Lies, and Politicians"





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