[arpa]

How would one determine whether a legal algorithm was used or an illegal one? Even without steganography?

[fucking_tragedy]

Can we run the ciphertext through a state-approved program and get the plaintext? No? Then it isn't backdoored and is illegal.

[arpa]

Well maybe i'm transmitting my memory dump or generating random traffic / sprouting entropy. Or everything is transmitted with mime types? Even so it makes no sense as even the most basic steganography would provide plausible deniability. I mean encrypted data is indistinguishable from noise...

[arpa]

on the other hand your reply deeply reflects on the common (lack) of knowledge of government types - i could bet they think the same :)