Export of cryptography#PC era

{{Short description|Transfer of cryptography technology from one country to another}}

{{missing information|article|non-CoCom, like Chinese licensing (商用密码产品出口许可)|date=May 2020}}

The export of cryptography is the transfer from one country to another of devices and technology related to cryptography.

In the early days of the Cold War, the United States and its allies developed an elaborate series of export control regulations designed to prevent a wide range of Western technology from falling into the hands of others, particularly the Eastern bloc. All export of technology classed as 'critical' required a license. CoCom was organized to coordinate Western export controls.

Many countries, notably those participating in the Wassenaar Arrangement, introduced restrictions. The Wassenaar restrictions were largely loosened in the late 2010s.{{cite web |last1=Meyer |first1=Venable LLP-Lindsay B. |last2=McMullan |first2=Carrie Kroll |last3=Sudduth |first3=Wes S. |title=Top Five Takeaways: Wassenaar Arrangement Updates to Commerce's Encryption-Related Export Controls |url=https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=396daedc-5ab0-4148-a5d6-e931aad83895 |website=Lexology |language=en |date=October 19, 2016 |access-date=May 13, 2020 |archive-date=July 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705081811/https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=396daedc-5ab0-4148-a5d6-e931aad83895 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=O'Keefe |first1=Amanda |title=Why the EU's call to remove crypto-tech from dual-use export controls is encouraging |url=https://iapp.org/news/a/why-the-eus-call-to-remove-crypto-tech-from-dual-use-export-controls-is-encouraging/ |website=IAPP |date=January 3, 2018 |access-date=May 13, 2020 |archive-date=October 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031005738/https://iapp.org/news/a/why-the-eus-call-to-remove-crypto-tech-from-dual-use-export-controls-is-encouraging/ |url-status=live }}