Clipper chip

Controversial encryption hardware system that contains built-in facilities to allow authorized third parties access to the encrypted data. Adopted as a US government standard in 1994 but abandoned in 1996, the Clipper chip was a chip that used public-key cryptography and a proprietary algorithm called Skipjack, and could be built into any communications device, such as a telephone or modem. It was developed by the US National Security Agency as part of its Capstone project.