If security algorithms are so important, why do the US and other governments try to prevent these technologies from spreading? The US government has imposed restrictions on industrial-strength ciphers, ostensibly because they can be used to harm the USA. However, some experts has suggested that this has the unintended side-effect of impeding the USA's own cryptographic technology, as companies now look elsewhere for their security needs.

Phones are ostensibly quite secure, but the government can get a phone tap on any line that they wish to. However, encrypted communications stop the government from being able to do this, unless, of course, the government has access to all encryption keys used in any communication. However, this would mean that no encrypted email is secure, and is seen by many as an infringement of public freedom, and an intrusion into personal privacy.