SIG/TT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7
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RIPPUB
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S
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30
Document Creation Date: 
December 22, 2016
Document Release Date: 
December 7, 2010
Sequence Number: 
1
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Publication Date: 
August 14, 1985
Content Type: 
MEMO
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PDF icon CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7.pdf1.15 MB
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 J.X ('U`I'IVE SECRETARIAT ACTION INFO DATE INITIAL 1 DCI 2 DDCI X 3 EXDIR X 4 D/ICS X 5 DDI X 6 DDA x 8 DDS&T X ---- 9 Chm/NIC 10 GC 11 IG 12 Compt 13 D/OLL 14 D/PAO 15 VC/NIC 16 N 17 C/TTIC x 18 1 -A 19 20 21 22 TE ecutive Secretory Aug 85 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 8523964 CJ United States Department of State Washington, D.C. 20520 with SECRET Pt . t Senior Interagency Group No. 23 TO: &Q'l;-k - Commerce Defense Energy FBI Justice NASA NSA OMB OSTP NSC NSF Mrs. Helen Robbins COL David Brown Mr. William Vitale Mr. James Geer Mr. Stephen Galebach Mr. Kenneth Pedersen Mr. Alton Keel - Dr. George Keyworth - Mr. William Martin - Dr. Bodo Bartocha SUBJECT: SIG/TT Executive Committee Meeting Attached is the Summary of Conclusions for the Executive Committee meeting of the SIG on domestic safeguards on supercomputers, held on August 12, 1985. Nicholas PlUtt Executive Secretary Attachments: 1. Summary of Conclusions. 2. List of Participants. w; + h SCRET la.t+ _ -L_ + STAT STAT Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 United States Department of State Washington, U.C. 20520 August 13, 1985 SECRET PARTICIPANTS: DATE AND TIME: See Attached List Monday, August 12, 1985 at 3:00 p.m. PLACE: Room 1105, Department of State SUBJECT: Domestic Safeguards for Supercomputers SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS Under Secretary Schneider convened the Executive Committee of the SIG to reach an agreed interagency on U.S. policy regarding domestic safeguards for super-ition computers. The Under Secretary opened the meeting by underscoring the reasons for U.S. concern about uncontrolled access to supercomputers. He reviewed for the group the existing international regime that prohibits access for COCOM proscribed nationals. Mr. Schneider noted that the Japanese have been particularly vigorous in enforcing domestic safeguards; they have already denied 3 dozen visa applications on this basis. He added that if we are to maintain the safeguard agreements contained in the existing international regime, we must design and implement a US regime that is the functional equivalent of the international regime. The following is a summary of issues discussed by the SIG Executive Committee: Issue I: Category I - USG Owned and Operated Supercomputers: Should the U.S. Government apply "no access" rule to supercomputers owned and operated by U.S. Government Agencies? y All USG agencies with the exception of DOE and OSTP agreed that USG owned and operated machines should have a strict "no access" nation. rule applied to COCOM proscribed s OSTP and DOE indicated that they had not been briefed on the national security threat of COCOM proscribed national's use of the machine, and felt that the facts for restricting access were not well developed. However, it was stated that DOE was an active participant in the conceptualization and negotiation of the US-Japanese supercomputer agreement. SECRET DECLASS OADR Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 NSA offered to provide a briefing for OSTP and DOE. OSTP and DOE said that they were planning a trip to Los Alamos at the end of next week, and would be briefed there as well. OSTP and DOE asked the group to reserve judgment on the issue until they returned from Los Alamos. The Chairman agreed. Issue II: Category II - Privately Owned & Operated Supercomputers - The U.S. Government should restrict and/or deny access to COCOM proscribed nationals to universities and private sector supercomputers through: Option It No access (accomplished through the visa process as a first step); Option 2: No access with some limited exceptions (enforced by a combination of the visa process and a procedure for the US Government to grant exceptions); or Option 3: Indirect access (through a monitoring process enforced by the supercomputer managers. The issue of treatment of PRC nationals as a COCOM proscribed nation was raised by NSF. The group agreed that the PRC question could be dealt with in a manner consistent with COCOM guidelines. After some discussion, the Under Secretary agreed that this issue should be considered along with that of Issue V -- consultations with the academic community. It was agreed that a team, led by the State Department and including all those involved in the international negotiations (plus NSF), would visit several universities to consult with the academic community on this question. The baseline proposal presented to thelacademic community would be the "no access" policy, with a view towards entering into a dialogue with them. He said that the SIG/TT would revisit this issue in September after the team visits. Issue III: Should NSF funded and controlled supercomputer centers be treated as US Govenment owned and operated computers (regime discussed in Issue I) or as private computers (regime discussed in Issue II)? Under Secretary Schneider said that the Supercomputer Working Group recommended that these machines be placed in the second category. NSF agreed, and the group concurred. Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 Issue IV: Voluntary Guidelines for Physical Security on Supercomputer Facilities. NSF said that they found all of the guidelines in the options memo satisfactory with the exception of the security measures on remote terminals. This was impracticable given sheer numbers. NSF suggested that better security should be put in front end computers. The group accepted all other guidelines, and asked the Supercomputer Working Group to re-think the remote terminal issue. Issue V: Consultations with the Academic Community The group decided this issue in the context of Issue II. Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 SIG TT - Supercomputers Monday, August 12, 1985 3:00 p.m., Room 1105 William St?hnaidar Jr. "CI.LLUL J, son Stephen Bryen George Menas Al Trivelpiece Carl Thorne Don Ofte Harry W. Porter Roger Diehl J. Michael Shepherd Rick Cinquegrara Douglas Norton vaviC Wigg Erich Bloch Clifford Jacobs John Moore Arthur J. Kusinski Dan Taft Norine Noonan John McTague Ora Smith Michael Marks Pam Smith Sherwood McGinnis David Wilson Robert Price Dale Tahtinen Jerry W. Leach Ken Peoples Ralph A. Hallenbeck Dan Abbasi Wang 74 Agency State CIA CIA DIA DOC DOD DOD DOE DOE:DP DOE:DP FBI FBI Justice Justice NASA NSA NSA NSC NSF NSF NSF NSF OMB OMB OSTP OSTP State State State State State State:EB/ITC State:PM State:PM State:PM State:PM/STA 377-5491 697-9347 694-4625 252-5430 252-2112 252-2179 324-4646 324-4646 633-4604 633-5604 453-8458 395-5607 357-7748 357-9695 357-9427 357-9445 395-3285 395-3534 395-3961 395-5052 632-8071 632-8724 632-0533 632-1421 632-0964 632-1625 632-5097 632-1236 632-0440 632-5097 25X1 25X1 25X1 orlyl '25X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87MOO539R000400520001-7 EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT ROUTING SLIP ACTION INFO DATE INITIAL 1 DCI 2 DDCI x 3 EXDIR X 4 D/ICS 5 DDI X 6 DDA 7 DDO 8 DDS&T 9 Chm/NIC 10 GC 11 IG 12 Compt 13 D/OLL 14 D/PAO 15 VC/NIC x 16 NIO & 17 C/TTIC x 18 19 20 21 22 Remarks To 15: Per DDCI, Julian ill nd this mtg as the principal with as the "plus-one ES has calle n e names.,--, rU7nve,)ecr-eTo--ry Aug 85 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 SECRET Senior Interagency Group No. 23 United States Department tae Washington, D.C. 20520 RC 'j ry % August 7, 1985 Commerce - Mrs. Helen Robbins Defense - COL David Brown Energy - Mr. William Vitale FBI - Mr. James Geer Justice - Mr. Stephen Galebach NASA - Mr. Kenneth Pedersen NSA - OMB - Mr. Alton Keel OSTP - Dr. George Keyworth NSC - Mr. William Martin NSF - Dr. Bodo Bartocha SUBJECT: Announcement of a Meeting of the Executive Committee of the SIG on Transfer of Strategic Technology 207/2 The SIG/TT Executive Committee will meet on Monday, August 12, 1985, at 3:00 p.m. in Room 1105 at the State Department. The issue for the meeting will be the question of domestic safeguards on supercomputers. Attached you will find an options paper which has been prepared by the Supercomputer Working Group. Attendance is principal plus one. We respectfully request that only principals sit at the table. Please telephone the names of your participants to Jerry Leach (6325097) or Kristen Johnson (632-5104) by COB Friday, August 9. ~r~r Nicholas Pl41tt executive Secretary Attachments: - Policy Options Paper on Domestic Safeguards for Supercomputers SECRET DECL:OADR 6 -.1 60~ "03.6 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 United States Department of State Under Secretary of State for Security Assistance, Science and Technology Washington, D.C. 20520 August 6, 1985 SECRET MEMORANDUM TO: SIG Members Represented Qn the Supercomputer Working Group FROM: William Schneider, Jr. SUBJECT: SIG Executive Committee Meeting on Domestic Supercomputer Policy Monday. August 12, 1985 Room 1105 - 3:00 p.m. Over the last few months, the Supercomputer Working Group (SWG) has been meeting to discuss options for a domestic supercomputers safeguards policy that achieves "functional equivalency" with the international regime that is in place with Japan and the FRG.* Based on the work of the SWG, it is now necessary to make several policy decisions so that the we can proceed with a domestic safeguards program. For this reason, I am calling a SIG meeting for Monday, August 12, to focus on some of the available options that have been identified by the SWG. I. National Security Concerns About Supercomputers Supercomputers, though general purpose in nature, can be used for highly sensitive national security applications, e.g.; nuclear weapons design and testing, anti-submarine warfare, and will be critical to the development of the Strategic Defense Initiative, including directed-energy weapons. Consequently, the United States Government has placed special restrictions on the sale of supercomputers overseas under the authority of the Export Administration Act, prohibiting these very sophisticated machines from being sent to any COCOM proscribed country. These restrictions had the following goals: 1. To assure a supercomputer is not acquired by any COCOM proscribed country. 2. To assure that COCOM proscribed nationals will not have access to supercomputer production technology. *The existance of this regime is not generally known, and should be treated as classified information. SECRET Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 SECRET -2- 3. To assure that COCOM proscribed nationals cannot access to or use of Western supercomputers in order to gain insight on supercomputer technology or to perform military or intelligence related work that could not be performed on a lesser machine. There seems to be agreement that illigitimate use of U.S. supercomputers for production work on direct military or intelligence applications will be unlikely if COCOM proscribed nationals have reason to believe that work they might do will be monitored. Without some form of monitoring, however, they might risk supercomputer access where they were unable to do certain things of great military importance without a supercomputer, and the risk of detection was low. Due to the lack of any policy to the contrary, COCOM proscribed nation scientists in the past have been allowed hundreds of hours on U.S. supercomputers -- more than enough time, some contend, for significant work on things of immediate military or intelligence importance to have been done. There are 109 U.S. origin supercomputers in the world (excluding the supercomputers at the Department of Defense), sixty-five of which are located in the United States. Of these sixty-five, six are located at U.S. universities and twenty-nine are located at U.S. Government installations. The remaining thirty are owned and operated by the private sector. Most of the private sector machines are used exclusively by the owner, but two of the private sector machines are time-leased to any customer. In addition to the installed supercomputers, the National Science Foundation will fund four new supercomputer centers at Princeton, University of Illinois (Urbana Champaign), University of California (San Diego) and Cornell. II. Policy Background In a SIG meeting on March 16, 1984, it was decided that we would seek an agreement with the Japanese (the only other manufacturer of supercomputers) to prevent the utilization and acquisition of or access to supercomputer technology by COCOM proscribed nationals. It seemed to be futile to restrict access to supercomputers if COCOM proscribed nationals could gain substantial knowledge about supercomputers, or perhaps even run programs with military applications, through the use of supercomputers located outside their borders. We were successful in our discussions with the Japanese. They agreed with us to condition foreign sales with a "no access for COCOM proscribed nationals" clause. It should be noted that under this agreed regime all exports Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 SECRET - 3- of supercomputers are conditioned with controls on access by all COCOM proscribed nationals. This includes PRC nationals. Nevertheless, because of the continuing liberalization in our relations with China, the SWG expects to revisit this issue for the purpose of whether to make any further recommendations to the SIG. When asked about the lack of any domestic "no access" policy, U.S. negotiators responded that we had this matter under review, and planned to take some action in the near future. Furthermore, we told them that it was our intent to construct a national security package to deal with this problem, including both domestic and international elements. At the last SIG meeting on May 8, we floated a draft national policy on use of or access to domestic supercomputers (Tab 1). Our view was that it made sense to restrict access to U.S. government owned machines first, and then to consider how to control COCOM proscribed access to other machines located in the U.S. It was pointed out that this was not as simple as it might appear, in that the National Science Foundation was funding new supercomputer centers at U.S. universities. The SWG has discussed options for restricting access. The SWG believes that formal consultations with academia and the private sector will be helpful in formulating a USG policy, but feels that it needs further guidance of the SIG before it can speak with one voice in discussion options with these groups. The SWG has requested the SIG to decide what options should be selected for presentation during these consultations as the draft USG policy. ISSUES FOR DECISION Issue I: Category I - - USG Owned & Operated Supercomputers Should the U.S. Government apply a strict "no access" rule to supercomputers owned and operated by U.S. Government agencies? Pros -- This would be a necessary step in conforming the international regime in place to the U.S. context and would be the minimum necessary to demonstrate our intent to deny access to COCOM proscribed nationals. -- Without this minimum step, it will be difficult at best to maintain our partnership with Japan SECRET Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 SECRET -4- and Germany concerning this issue and to continue to ensure that uniform safeguards are attached to all internal sales of supercomputers. Cons -- There might be the desire on the part of U.S. Government Agencies to permit access to COCOM proscribed nationals for the release of unclassified information, in keeping with the intent of existing bilateral agreements. -- When the academic community learns of a USG decision to uniquivically deny access to USG owned and operated supercomputers, they may regard this a prejudicial to the outcome ofthe regime that might apply to other supercomputers, including theirs. Category II -- Privately Owned & Operated Supercomuters The U.S. Government should restrict and/or deny access to COCOM proscribed nationals to universities and private sector supercomputers through: Option 1 -- Strict "no access" by uses of the visa process through straight denials or amendments to the visa. Pros -- This would conform with actions taken by the Japanese as a result of the international regime and would be totally consistent with conditions being placed on all international sales. -- It would demonstrate our serious intent not to allow loopholes in our domestic safeguard system for supercomputers and serve as a role model for importing governments to follow. -- This approach is consistent with the goals of our policy under the Export Administration Act. -- This approach would provide the greatest screen of protection against COCOM proscribed access to U.S. supercomputers. -- This approach would be enforced by the U.S. Government rather than the academic and SECRET Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 SECRET -5- business communities and would not encumber them with the bureaucratic difficulties of a "indirect access" system (Option 3). -- We expect that the approximate number of affected individuals would be small. Cons -- It may stimulate new, tougher restrictions on U.S. scientists working in COCOM proscribed countries. -- While it will certainly make access for COCOM proscribed operatives much more difficult, it may not be 100% effective. -- A move to restrict access would effectively cut off a portion of our S&T cooperation with the COCOM proscribed nations. The policy would prevent their scientists from running programs on benign scientific projects. -- Some in the academic community will regard this policy as a restriction on scientific and academic freedoms. -- This approach will involve a greater effort by the INS and FBI to monitor the limited core group that might attempt to access supercomputers, especially through time sharing service center operations where the customer is less well known compared with situations existing in the university center. Option 2 -- Option 1 (no access) with some exceptions, as determined by the USG, on a case-by-case basis. Pros -- This would provide a general policy of "no access", while allowing some exceptions desirable to the academic community and agreed to by the U.S. Government. Cons -- While presumably providing less access than in Option 3 below, this approach would have the same drawbacks as with Option 3 concerning its affect on the international regime. -- The USG would become involved in reviewing of cases for approval, which could create bureaucratic strains for the USG as well as unhappiness in the academic and business communities. Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 SECRET -6- -- Supercomputer centers would be encumbered with many of the same bureaucratic and enforcement requirements as in option 3. Option 3 -- Indirect Access for COCOM proscribed nationals for certain well defined cases. (A draft plan for such a regime is attached at Tab 2). Pros -- Permits access for COCOM proscribed nationals working on basic scientific projects, with subject matter that presents no national security threat, and therefore permits the continuation of certain joint S&T work. -- Through screening of COCOM proscribed nationals' programs, the academic/business community (and hopefully the USG) would have greater knowledge of program content. -- Some sectors of the U.S. academic community may find this flexible policy more acceptable. Cons -- Creates a very complicated bureaucratic structure through which access would be granted. -- There would be a greater possibility of diversion for malicious use than with a "no access" policy. -- Almost certainly would place the burden of access decisions and enforcement on the shoulders of the supercomputer center managers, which we assume would make them uncomfortable. -- Supercomputer centers would have to deal with remote access to the supercomputer, which would make enforcement even more difficult. -- If indirect access was readily available to COCOM proscibed nationals in the U.S., it would be impossible to continue to impose full restrictions on U.S. international sales. Option 1: No access Option 2: No access with some limited exceptions Option 3: Indirect access SECRET Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 SECRET -7- Issue III Should NSF funded and controlled supercomputer centers be treated as US Government owned and operated computers (regime discussed in issue 1) or as private computers (regime discussed in issue 2). The SWG recommends, in order to prevent dual systems of control for University Supercomputers Centers, that NSF affiliated machines be included within Category II, under whatever option is agreed to. Category I Category II Regardless of what options are chosen, the SWG recommends certain immediately available minimal safeguards be applied by non-Government Agency owned Supercomputer Centers on a voluntary basis. This step is consistent with the international regime in place, and helps to bring us one step closer to a functional equivilant of the international regime. This would be accomplished through periodic USG briefings for all supercomputer owners and managers. The proposed measures include: a. physical security of the computer, peripheral equipment, software, and on-site terminals; b. physical security of all remote terminals; and c. control of usage by means of passwords for all users, compartmented access categories and other procedures. Yes No The SWG recommends that based on SIG guidance a small team led by State begin discussions with the academic community as soon as possible in order to come to an agreed domestic safeguard program. Yes No SECRET Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 It_(, 1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 NATIONAL POLICY ['OR PROH1131TING ACCESS 13Y NON-RESIDENT ALIENS OF PROSCRIBED COUNTRIES '"O U.S. GOVERNMENT OWNED OR CONTROLLED SUPERCOMPUTERS SECTION I - SCOPE AND APPLICABILITY 1. This policy prohibits the acquisition, access or use of U.S. Government owned or controlled supercomputers by non-resident aliens of COCOM-proscribed and other proscribed matins;,. Supercomputers are extremely valuable tools in nuclear weapons design and testing, advanced aerodynamic and h:ydro'3yr.amic research, the development of directed-energy we.ipor:s, and other militarily critical technologies. Such c:rputers are known to be targeted by the Soviet military research and development community and by the Soviet Intelligence services. SECTION II - POLICY 2. It is the policy of the Government of the United States that non-resident aliens of COCOM-proscribed and other proscribed nations be prohibited from acquiring, accessing or using U.S. Government owned or controlled supercomputers. To effect this policy, the following security measures should be implemented: a. Computer center security against theft or unauthorized use of hardware and software; b. Appropriate checks to ensure that access to the computer center will'be limited to authorized persons; c. Password or ID protocols for access by any users d. No passwords or IDs issued to any non-resident aliens of COCOM-proscribed or other proscribed nations; e. No conscious or direct ties to the networks of COCOM-proscribed or other proscri=o:cribednations, or otter proscribed whose subscribers include COCOM-p nationst and f. Appropriate monitoring of computer usage. DRAFT Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/27: CIA-RDP87M00539R000400520001-7 ;:, ~..~?Ic~N i II - krSL'ONSIPII.ITIF:S 4. 1f14! ht-ads Of Federrl departments, agencies and ions :,re responsible for prohibiting the acquisition. ;,ccons or use by non-resident aliens of COCOM-proscribed and othor proscribed nations of supercomputers owned or controlled by :