Clipper

I was appalled to read about the Clinton Administration's desire to have the Clipper Chip semiconductor device installed in most U.S. electronic equipment ((TECHNOLOGY, March 14)). Opponents of this move point out that it would allow the U.S. government to keep tabs on phone, fax and computer traffic, and so foreign consumers would not want to buy American-made electronic gear if the government could listen in. With the increasing reliance of the world on electronic devices, our privacy will shrink more and more. The Clinton Administration wants to take away our constitutional right to such privacy. Big Brother will be listening in.

Scott E. Johnston

Apopka, Florida

AOL: DoDaDh

The day our government accesses our private phones, faxes and computers is the day we can unequivocally say the cold war was fought for nothing.

Benjamin Selman

Oberlin, Ohio

I propose a national theme song for the new Clipper Chip, to be sung to the tune of Every Breath You Take:

The Clipper Chip can see

Your thoughts belong to me,

U.S. escrow waits

For every keystroke you make.

Every word you write,

Every computer byte,

Every call you make,

Every fax you take,

We'll be watching you.

Deborah Ann Burghardt

Wethersfield, Connecticut