Clipper chip
![MYK-78](/Images/godic/202501/05/MYK-78_Clipper_chip_markings1307.jpg")
![RSA Security campaigned against the Clipper chip backdoor in the so-called Crypto Wars, with this poster being the most well-remembered icon of that debate.](/Images/godic/202501/05/Sink_Clipper_campaign1307.gif")
![Wired magazine](/Images/godic/202501/05/Cyberright1307.png")
![MYK-78](/Images/godic/202501/05/MYK-78_Clipper_Chip1307.jpg")
The Clipper chip was a chipset that was developed and promoted by the United States National Security Agency (NSA) as an encryption device, with a built-in backdoor, intended to be adopted by telecommunications companies for voice transmission. It was announced in 1993 and by 1996 was entirely defunct.