Phil Zimmermann

PGP encryption was once classified as a weapon

Dan Held notes that when Hal Finney ghostwrote PGP encryption with Phil Zimmerman, the Department of Defense classified it as a weapon, exposing him to possible arms-trafficking charges.

“But the ghostwriting PGP encryption, back in that era with Phil Zimmerman, PGP encryption was considered a weapon by the defense, uh, by, by the Department of Defense. So when he ghostwrote PGP, he knew that he was potentially going to be convicted for illegal arms trafficking.”