During the “crypto wars” of the mid-1990s, the
slavers tried rolling out a particularly pernicious doctrine
under which computer code and, by implication,
electronically-mediated communication in all forms, was not
considered speech worthy of protection compared to the spoken
word or physically printed documents. We thought we'd won, but,
as is so often the case, they're back! This time
they're trying to use the distribution of files containing
instructions for manufacturing firearms and components as a
wedge issue, once again arguing that computer files and design
documents are not speech. If they win, that wedge will be
driven to remove protection for all forms of speech in the form
of computer files. We must not let them win this one.