Banning encryption is digital equivalent of banning books

[Commentary] Books have been banned (and burned) precisely because new ideas are a threat to the people in charge. As powerful elites from across the globe prepare to gather for the World Economic Forum, smartphones and electronic tablets linked to the Internet have become the modern equivalents of mass-produced bibles.

United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron's proposal to ban encrypted communication -- like China's great Internet firewall and the USA Patriot Act -- could trade freedom for a promise of safety. Internet consumers who care about online privacy and long-term security should fight any proposal to ban encrypted communication.

[John Shinal is a writer for Bloomberg, BusinessWeek, the Wall Street Journal Digital Network, and others]